New Margao wholesale fish market to open soon: SGPDA chairman

Margao: South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) chairman and MLA Krishna Salkar on Saturday said that the new wholesale fish market, which he said was almost ready, will be inaugurated soon.

He also announced plans to renovate the existing retail fish market, for which estimates were currently being prepared.Following an inspection of the conditions at the existing wholesale fish market, Salkar said that a meeting with chief minister Pramod Sawant has been scheduled for June 17. Decisions about setting the inauguration date for the new wholesale fish market, tendering processes for parking fees and sopo collection, outsourcing arrangements for cleaning and sanitation services, and other matters will be finalised.

Officials from the fisheries department, SGPDA, and Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation are expected to attend the meeting.The first phase of construction of the new wholesale fish market was initially targeted for completion by Jan 26 but has since been delayed.Salkar acknowledged the persistent waterlogging problems at the current wholesale fish market, which contributed to unhygienic conditions.

As a temporary measure, he said, the site will be levelled and reinforced with rubble soling.The SGPDA chairman assured that the new wholesale fish market will be made fully operational once all identified faults are rectified. Also, the wastewater from the market will be treated at a sewage treatment plant, and he assured that no discharge will be done into the fields. Salkar also said that no retail fish sales will be permitted within the wholesale fish market premises.Regarding the contentious matter of sopo collection and parking fees for fish-carrying vehicles, Salkar stated that the issue will be resolved once the SGPDA completes the tendering process. He emphasised that the SGPDA will not tolerate any unauthorised fee collection within its complex, and authorised contractors are prohibited from charging vehicles parked outside designated areas.