Chaos prevailed around the Vasco Fish Market on Wednesday after traditional fish vendors vacated the newly constructed Fish Market Complex and began selling fish on the roadside in protest against what they described as unhygienic and unbearable conditions inside the market.
As vendors shifted outdoors, the area around the market witnessed severe traffic congestion, with customers parking their two-wheelers along the roadside to purchase fish, disrupting the smooth flow of traffic.
The protesting vendors alleged that they had repeatedly brought the matter to the notice of Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar and the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC), but claimed that no concrete action had been taken to resolve the long-pending drainage problems.
According to the vendors, the drainage outlet installed in the market is too small and gets choked frequently. They further alleged that the situation worsened after the drainage system began flowing in reverse, causing wastewater from the gutters to enter the fish-selling area and flood the market floor.
The vendors claimed the stagnant drainage water has created an unbearable stench, making it impossible to conduct business inside the newly built complex.
They also expressed concern over health issues, stating that several vendors have developed swollen feet, skin rashes and infections after standing for long hours in the contaminated water. Some vendors have reportedly been forced to wear gumboots while selling fish to avoid direct contact with the polluted water.
Frustrated over what they described as the authorities' continued inaction, the vendors said they had no option but to shift their business onto the roads. They warned that they would continue selling fish outside the market until the drainage problem is permanently resolved, even if it means operating in heavy monsoon rains.
Apart from the drainage issue, the vendors also reiterated another long-standing demand made before shifting into the new market complex. They alleged that the MMC had assured them that roadside fish vending by migrant sellers and wholesale fish sales at Kharewaddo would be stopped. However, they claimed that neither issue has been addressed, resulting in reduced customer footfall and financial losses for traditional vendors operating from the market.
The vendors also questioned how certain wholesalers were continuing to sell large quantities of fish during the ongoing fishing ban, claiming they were sourcing the catch from their own boats.
The agitating vendors have demanded immediate intervention from the MMC and other authorities to rectify the drainage problem and regulate roadside and wholesale fish sales in and around Vasco to ensure a fair business environment for traditional fish sellers.
Warning of intensified agitation, the vendors said they would continue selling fish on the roadside until the drainage issue is permanently resolved.
They cautioned that if the authorities fail to act immediately, they will escalate their protest by staging demonstrations and even shift their fish sales outside the Mormugao Municipal Council office to highlight their grievances and force the administration to address their long-pending demands.
