MARGAO
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to inaugurate the Viksit Bharat rally February 6 has helped spruce up the Margao KTC bus stand and the damaged bus shed, crying for attention over the years.
Just metres away from the KTC bus stand, fish vendors at the SGPDA fish market hope the government would step in to stem the rot in the retail market, renovated on the lines of the famous Dubai fish market just half a decade ago.
Local residents of Madel, which is witnessing hectic pace of activity around the KTC bus stand area ahead of the PM’s visit on February 6, seemed pinning hopes that the government also take up on priority the sewage issue plaguing the city, especially around the Old market area for want of the commissioning of the North Main trunk sewage line.
SGPDA retail fish vendors lamented that the PDA has still not capped the waste water overflowing at the fish market, right near the foundation stone which was laid around half a decade ago, to renovate the market on the lines of the Dubai market.
Fisherwoman Bostean told the media that there’s no upkeep and maintenance of the fish market for a long time. Pointing to the overflowing waste water, Bostean highlighted the overflowing water symbolizes utter neglect of the SGPDA fish market.
“There is no maintenance of the market. On one hand, we have to contend with theft of fish in the market. And, there’s no let up in the overflowing waste water in the market for want of maintenance”, she said.
Another fish vendor pointed out that while the government is spending crores of rupees to spruce up the KTC bus stand with a hot mix coat and replacement of the damaged bus shed, maintenance of the fish market seemed not on the priority list of the government. “We don’t see Viksit Bharat in the fish market. Let the authorities come and see for themselves the overflowing waste water and maintenance in the market”, remarked a fish vendor.
