Sale of fish along the SGPDA wholesale fish market road in full swing early Thursday morning. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Has the SGPDA’s decision to shut down the wholesale fish market helped stop the risk of spread of Coronavirus in Goa’s lone wholesale fish market?
The market closure might have stopped the assembly of people inside the market, but sale of fish outside seems to have defeated the very purpose of the shutdown.
Believe it or not, the SGPDA market has remained shut since Goa had gone into a lockdown since last week. As a matter of abundant precaution and with cases rising by the day, SGPDA chairman, MLA Wilfred D’Sa had even extended the lockdown to May 10.
The ground reality, however, seemed unchanged. The wholesale fish market has become a hub for fish trade since the last few days. Vendors have been swarming all along the road in large number, selling fish in retail, which is not only an illegal activity, but has raised questions over the activity when the wholesale fish market remained shut.
A visit to the wholesale fish market early Thursday morning showed a large assembly of vendors and buyers all along the road. The wholesale fish market inside was shut as per the PDA decision, but the activity along the road has thrown up questions whether the PDA’s decision will achieve any purpose if buying and selling of fish continues unabated all along the road.
The Margao Municipal Council and Fatorda police are yet to initiate any action in the matter. In fact, the activity comes under the jurisdiction of the Margao Municipal Council, but the Municipal market inspectors are nowhere to be seen around the place to crack the whip.
The Fatorda police, which had gone overboard on Wednesday, closing markets and lathi charging people on the roads, surprisingly has gone missing from the wholesale fish market road till date.
Interestingly, a lone police jeep was found near the wholesale fish market road later Thursday morning, but only after vendors had made a brisk business.
Meanwhile, president of Margao Wholesale Fish Traders Association, M Ibrahim has asked the district Collector to crack the whip against all fish vehicles and vendors doing business outside the wholesale fish market. “The fish traders have decided not to bring fish in the market. Still, some vehicles are coming from across the state. We have asked the Collector to initiate action”, Ibrahim added.
Stop the sale of fish:
CO to civic inspectors
MARGAO: Margao Municipal Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes has directed the Municipal inspectors to stop the illegal sale of fish by the roadside near SGPDA Market from 7 am onwards.
The Chief Officer has also requested the police inspectors of Fatorda and Margao to assist the civic body in stopping the sale of fish at the SGPDA Market and Rawandfond area from 5 am onwards.
In his order, the Chief Officer has authorized the men on duty to seize material of roadside vendors which come on road early in the morning or till the time the Municipal Inspectors of this office and their team resume their duties.
