MARGAO
Teething problems have come to the fore at the refurbished retail fish market with vendors pointing out to the absence of provision to display as well as sell fish in ‘vanttes’ (Konkani word for portion), even as the SGPDA went about cracking a whip late Tuesday evening lifting away plastic sheets, cane and thermocol baskets from the market.
The SGPDA officials made it clear that the market will neither have any place for plastic sheets nor cane and thermocol boxes, but reassured the vendors that they will place order for steel plates for the vendors to display fish as well as sell the fish in vanttes.
SGPDA officials led by Paul and the police moved into the retail fish market on Tuesday evening after they came across vendors putting plastic sheets to display as well as sell fish in vanttes. They removed the plastic sheets and lifted away the cane baskets and some thermocol boxes.
President of the Fish Vendors Association Felix Gonsalves, however, said there was some confusion amongst the vendors on the question of selling fish in vanttes. “Some of the vendors must have used the plastic sheets on Tuesday evening to sell fish in vanttes. The, PDA, however, has placed orders for steel plates which will be placed above the stainless steel trays to display fish as well as sell fish in vanttes,” Felix said, adding that all these issues will be addressed in a day or two. Fish vendors, while welcoming the spruce up of the market, however, have questions on the stainless steel fish trays, saying the PDA should provide the plates which will felicitate display and sale of fish in vanttes.
The TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai told the PDA officials that while the fish vendors should be provided with the steel plates to sell fish in vanttes, he is believed to have conveyed a strong message to the PDA not to compromise on the hygiene and cleanliness in the market. “We can look into the needs and requirements of the fish vendors, but there will be no compromise on the issues concerning hygiene and cleanliness. Fish baskets, which cause seepage of water in the passages will have no place in the market,” Sardesai added.
