VASCO
The proposed Vasco fish market complex is already embroiled in a major row between the Vasco fish market vendors, the roadside vendors and the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC).
Vendors at the Vasco fish market on Friday insisted they would not give a final go-ahead till the MMC acts on people selling fish outside the market and by the roadsides, even as the MMC has been planning to erect a temporary shed to shift the Vasco fish vendors while the market project is to be taken up.
A meeting of the MMC and fish market vendors was convened in the market premises on Friday morning, where the vendors agreed to pay Sopo tax but reiterated their demand to the MMC to clear people selling fish outside the market.
Speaking to media MMC Councillor Fredrick Henriques said the council has got all approvals, while a work order will be issued in 2-3 days.
“The MMC wants to have a temporary shed for these vendors close to the present market itself so that they don’t have to move far away and the vendors had an issue with people selling fish outside the market.”
“The vendors are happy that the MMC has begun acting on people selling fish by the roadside and have agreed to pay Sopo tax to the MMC. Everything seems to be sorted out at the moment,” said Henriques.
“Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida has already given instructions and the police are also working along with municipal inspectors to clear those selling fish by the roadsides. This cannot be done in one day because during the pandemic many people had begun selling fish at many places,” said Henriques.
President of Vasco Fish Market Vendors Caridade Pereira said the MMC had sought four days’ time to clear people selling fish by the roadsides, but many were still selling fish all over the place.
“We called all vendors for the meeting on Friday because some vendors were not present on Monday. We have agreed to pay the Sopo tax, which we had stopped out of anger because everyone was selling fish by roadsides without paying any Sopo while we were paying the MMC for these premises.”
“We have asked the MMC to clear all roadside vendors first and then only then will we give our approval to the MMC to take up the market project. They have not been able to clear the roadside vendors till date and we will not shift anywhere till the roadside fish vendors are cleared.”
“Migrants are selling fish all over the place and we will not shift from the market till these people are cleared,” said Pereira.
