PONDA
The local fish vendors were upset with the ‘mobile fish van’ of the Fisheries Department, claiming that they were losing business due to the van.
Over 40 vendors gathered at the site and threatened the van’s occupants to leave the town. The van then proceeded towards the police station for protection. A police van was later summoned to the spot. The market vendors followed the van and told the police that mobile fish vans should be banished from the town. The police told the agitators that they cannot initiate action against the fish van as it was a service launched by the
State government.
The van then proceeded towards Varkhande but the van operators were once again threatened by the brother of a businessman and influential politician from Durbhat, along with other vendors.
He threatened the occupants of the van to set it ablaze if they did not leave the area.
Left with no option, the van was forced to leave the town.
Many customers of the ‘mobile fish van’ supported the government’s scheme and questioned the fish vendors for their high-handed approach.
“Vendors from the market charge an exorbitant rate for the fish. We used to buy fresh fish at reasonable rates from the mobile fish van since the last one month,” remarked one buyer at the site.
When contacted, Police Inspector Sudesh Naik told The Goan that they did not receive any complaint from the occupants of the fish van. “Had they complained, we would have taken action,” Naik said.
Attempts were made to contact Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado on two occasions, but he did not respond to phone calls.
