Margao : The Goa’s lone wholesale fish market at Fatorda is in the news again, this time due to alleged mudslinging over the fish trading and fee collection issues. Earlier, the market was in the news due to blatant laxity towards observing the social distancing norm.

President of the wholesale fish market traders’ association Ibrahim Maulana, addressing media, alleged that SGPDA-appointed contractor Milagres Fernandes, who has been engaged to collect fees from wholesale fish traders, was allegedly resorting to wrongdoings and sought government’s intervention into the issue.

“Fernandes collects Rs 1 lakh daily from the wholesale fish market. I demand the government to intervene. We will approach the court to highlight the wrongdoings,” Maulana alleged while briefing the media.

Also addressing the media, Fernandes on his part alleged that “the formalin mafia wanted only certain fish traders’ vehicles inside the market and not others. I have stopped such dictatorial ways of functioning. If I collect extra money from the vehicles, then it can be verified with the officials of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), who conduct tests at the site, as they also have the record of the vehicles.”

According to Fernandes, the daily collection of fees is roughly around Rs 35,000 to 40,000.

Maulana said the SGPDA ignored their proposal wherein they had offered Rs 5 lakh per month for a space of 5000 square metres at the wholesale fish market.

“SGPDA had assured to discuss the proposal at August 3 meeting, but it did not do so. We strongly object to the revised fees for fish vehicles at the wholesale fish market as there are no facilities available there,” Maulana claimed.