MARGAO
In a major decision, the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) has rejected the request made by the Margao Wholesale Fish Market Association to allot land admeasuring 5,000 square metres in the wholesale fish market for the exclusive use of the Association, saying such a request if granted would result in chaos and monopoly in the market.
Days after the SGPDA rejected the association’s request to review the levy of sopo collection fees in the wholesale fish market, the SGPDA has further tightened the screws, with the planning body instructing the association to ensure that fish vehicles do not park outside the market after leaving the premises.
In a letter addressed to the president of the Margao Wholesale Fish Market Association, SGPDA Member Secretary Vertika Dagur was categorical in stating that the Authority was of the opinion that the association, which does huge business in the wholesale fish market cannot make a grievance of the levy of rates.
“After due deliberations and after taking into consideration all the relevant factors, the Authority had revised the levy of collection rates. The Authority finds the revision is justified considering the same has been done after 17 long years,” the PDA Member Secretary, adding that the request of Margao Wholesale Fish Market Association stands rejected.
The SGPDA further stated that the vehicles which come out of the market after selling the fish are required to go back, reminding these vehicles cannot be permitted to park outside the wholesale fish market. “The association is hereby instructed that once the vehicles come out of the wholesale fish market, they should not be parked outside and should not result in parking nuisance,” the letter stated.
The SGPDA Member Secretary has apparently written the letter to the association for information and in compliance to the directions of the High Court in a writ petition.
The association had knocked the doors of the High Court seeking directions to the SGPDA to review the sopo collection fees, which were not only hiked by the Planning body, but the vehicles entering the wholesale fish market were charged on hourly basis.
