Uncertainty over new Vasco fish market complex, temporary shed

VASCO

The long-pending project of a new Vasco fish market has hit another roadblock after Vasco market fish vendors on Monday refused to shift to a newly built temporary structure till wholesalers selling fish around the fish market were stopped from doing business.

The Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) had recently transferred funds to GSUDA to take up the market project and it was also decided that the GSUDA would erect a temporary shed where the fish vendors would be shifted.

The GSUDA-appointed contractor would then demolish the existing Vasco fish market and construct a new market at the same location.

The temporary shed has been set up, but in a new development, vendors of the Vasco fish market have refused to shift to the location.

Vasco Fish Market President Caridade Pereira accused the MMC of not taking them into confidence before constructing the new temporary shed.

“The MMC is trying to protect the interest of wholesalers because their councillor and MMC Market Committee Chairman Mathias Monteiro is himself a wholesaler,” alleged Pereira.

“They will shift us to the new location and our market will be demolished. People who come to Vasco will go to the nearby wholesalers leaving us in a corner without any business or customers.”

“The MMC had assured to clear roadside vendors and wholesalers but that has not been done and we will not shift elsewhere till this is done," said Pereira.

“Two years ago, Vasco BJP MLA Carlos Almeida in a joint meeting had told us that he would clear all roadside vendors and fish wholesalers and show us the new location where he would shift us. But since then, he has done nothing nor has the MMC cleared wholesalers and roadside vendors. Today, the entire road surrounding the Vasco fish market is flooded with many fish wholesalers," said Pereira.

Pereira warned the MMC and GSUDA that any attempt to forcibly shift them to the new structure would lead to massive agitation.

"We had placed our conditions before the MMC and if they have gone ahead and built a new structure without fulfilling our conditions, it is their problem, not ours,” said Pereira.

Cooperate to set up new fish market 
complex, chairperson tells vendors

VASCO 

Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Damodar Kaskar on Monday said the municipal council has plans to build a state-of-the-art fish market for vendors and requested them to cooperate with authorities.

"The MMC has already taken up the project to construct the new fish market through the GSUDA and we have also built a structure in the heart of the city where the fish vendors can be temporarily shifted.”

“This structure has all facilities for vendors and only when they shift there can we go ahead with the construction of the new complex. We request vendors to cooperate with us so that we can also expedite the construction of the new fish market for them. We will also initiate action against vendors selling fish outside the Vasco fish market," said Kaskar.