MARGAO
The South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGDPA) has decided to extend the closure of Goa’s lone wholesale fish market till May 10.
While the SGPDA has taken the decision in view of the continuous surge in Covid cases, questions are being raised in certain quarters whether the PDA action has helped to contain the coronavirus.
For, sources in the know say that while the SGPDA’s lockdown of the wholesale fish market continues, with the market entrance and exit gates locked, fish vehicles have been doing business on the road outside.
The fishing activity on the road outside the fish market has thrown up a question whether the SGPDA’s decision to shut down the wholesale fish market has helped to stop the spread of the virus when fish vessels are doing business outside.
SGPDA Chairman, MLA Wilfred D’Sa said he has asked the PDA Member Secretary Vertika Dagur to write a letter to the South Goa district Collector to crack a whip against the fish business activity outside the wholesale fish market. “The PDA had decided to shut down the wholesale fish market on the ground that the market should not turn into a Covid hotspot. While our market has remained shut and will remain closed till May 10, fish business is being carried out outside the market by vehicles. I have asked our Member Secretary to get the authorities crack a whip against the activity,” D’Sa said.
Interestingly, the area outside the wholesale fish market comes under the jurisdiction of the Margao Municipal Council. And, if sources are to be believed, the sopo contractor appointed by the MMC has been collecting sopo from the fish seller, while the civic authorities and the police have still not initiated action against the activity.
MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes said he would issue an order to the Municipal Market inspectors to ensure no fish business takes place outside the wholesale fish market when the market has been shut down because of Covid.
