Authority initiates temporary measures, undertakes soling of sunken areas; CM meet on June 17 to resolve key issues including inauguration of redeveloped market
SGPDA Chairman, MLA Krishna Salkar supervising the temporary measures initiated by the PDA to remove the stink from the wholesale fish market.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
As stink and muck raised their ugly heads in the Margao wholesale fish market, the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) has initiated temporary measures to ensure a conducive environment for stakeholders to conduct business in Goa’s only wholesale fish market.
That’s not all. All issues staring at the Margao wholesale fish market, including the long-pending inauguration of the redeveloped market, are expected to be resolved next week when SGPDA Chairman, MLA Krishna Salkar meets Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
The PDA Chairman told the media at the wholesale fish market that a meeting has been convened by the Chief Minister with GSIDC officials and the contractor, who have executed the work on the redeveloped wholesale fish market. “We expect to resolve all issues staring at the wholesale fish market, including the inauguration of the redeveloped market, its upkeep and maintenance and other issues,” Salkar said.
Pending the inauguration of the imposing market facility, Salkar, however, said the SGPDA has initiated temporary measure in the market to do the soling of areas which has sunk due to the waterlogging. “We have deployed JCB machinery to level the market area. The contractor will complete the soling work in the next three days, which will give relief to the traders and fishermen,” he said.
The SGPDA chairman said the issue of floating a tender to collect the sopo fees in the wholesale fish market will be decided at the meeting of the SGPDA. “We want to inaugurate the redeveloped market as early as possible. Hence, we have called for a meeting with the Chief Minister on June 17 to resolve the pending issues,” he said.
On the maintenance of the redeveloped market, Salkar said a decision will be taken to appoint a contractor to look after the upkeep and maintenance of the new market and the toilets to offer better amenities for the traders, fishermen and customers.
To a question, he recalled that BITS Pilani had set up an effluent treatment plant at the wholesale fish market to treat the waste water, adding that the same plant will be revived for treatment of waste water.
On double taxation allegations made by boat owners, Salkar clarified that the SGPDA contractor collects the sopo tax only from the PDA market. “We have no role to play what is happening on the road and in the area of the Margao Municipal jurisdiction,” he added.
PDA to knock CM’s door for funds to refurbish mega retail market
MARGAO: The South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) will knock the doors of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to sanction funds to refurbish and give a new look for the SGPDA mega retail market.
SGPDA, Chairman, MLA Krishna Salkar told the media that the PDA has prepared estimates for the renovation of the mega retail market, which will give a new look for the market complex.
He, however, appealed to the vendors in the fish, vegetable and fruit markets to support the PDA initiative by contributing towards the maintenance fee. “Presently, the vendors are paying Rs 10 as sopo fee, which is not sufficient to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of the market. We expect the vendors to contribute additional fee for the market upkeep,” he added.
