Stench and filth welcomed PWD Minister Digambar Kamat in the SGPDA mega retail market on Thursday.
MARGAO
Can PWD Minister Digambar Kamat finally bring about a turnaround in the stinking SGPDA mega retail market? That question took centre stage on Thursday after the Minister inspected the market complex along with SGPDA Chairman and MLA Krishna Salkar, officials of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the Margao Municipal Council (MMC).
As Kamat walked through the market complex, he was confronted with a host of problems, including heaps of filth at the PDA parking lot, broken tiles, encroachments and badly damaged internal roads.
After taking stock of the situation, the Minister initiated a series of temporary measures to address some of the immediate problems plaguing the market.
Kamat directed PWD officials to take up soling work in an area that has turned into a garbage dumping spot within the market complex. He also instructed officials to deploy the jet patch machine and repair the damaged internal roads within three days to ensure smoother movement of vehicles.
For a long-term solution, Kamat constituted a panel headed by the South Goa Additional Collector and comprising officials from the SGPDA, GSPCB and MMC to examine the various issues affecting the mega retail market and recommend measures for a permanent turnaround.
Speaking to the media, Kamat said the panel would be formally notified by the government and would examine issues ranging from sanitation and hygiene to encroachments and waste management.
“The team will inspect and go into all the issues affecting the market, including sanitation, hygiene and encroachments. The panel will submit its report within 10-15 days,” he said.
Kamat also announced plans to install CCTV surveillance cameras across the market complex to identify people allegedly dumping waste from outside in the PDA premises.
SGPDA Chairman Krishna Salkar said he had invited the PWD Minister to inspect the market after receiving complaints about several problems, particularly encroachments along the market passages.
“I am confident that the Minister will find a way out to address the issues,” Salkar said.
The Minister takes a close look at the broken tiles in the fish market.
No stray dog feeding in market complex
With complaints pouring in about individuals feeding stray dogs inside the market complex, Kamat called for an immediate end to the practice, citing Supreme Court guidelines.
He directed the district authorities to send a police team to the market to warn those feeding stray dogs to stop the practice or face action in accordance with the law.
“If they don’t listen to the advice, the police may initiate further action as per law,” he said.
Revival of 5-TPD biomethanation plant
In another move aimed at tackling the waste generated at the market complex, Kamat directed senior GSPCB official Sanjeev Joglekar to explore the possibility of reviving the 5-tonne-per-day (TPD) bio-methanation plant installed at the market. “I have told the GSPCB official to explore the possibility of reviving the bio-methanation plant to treat the waste generated in the mega market,” Kamat said.
He added that the GSPCB official would submit a report on the feasibility of reviving the defunct plant.
‘Market has no place for encroachments’
Kamat said encroachments along the market passages could not be allowed, particularly as they obstruct the movement of customers.
Recalling his association with the planning of the market complex, Kamat said he had been part of the SGPDA team that had visited Pune along with market vendors before the market was designed.
“At that time, the vendors had agreed that they would do business from the platforms. What we have seen today during the inspection is shocking. The vendors are selling on the passages with their goods. Encroachments in the market have to stop for safer and smoother movement of customers,” he said.
Asked about the rampant retail sale of fish inside the wholesale fish market, Kamat said the PDA would take action against the practice.
“The High Court has made it very clear that there cannot be retail sale of fish in the market. The PDA will initiate action,” he said.
Incidentally, retail fish vendors operating from the mega retail fish market have been occupying the fish market passages in protest against retail fish sales taking place inside the wholesale fish market. Kamat, however, said the newly constituted panel would examine the issue and make recommendations.
“Let the panel go into all these issues and make recommendations. We will go into the recommendations and initiate necessary action,” he said.
