Goa: At an impasse over market, SGPDA seeks CM's input

MARGAO: Facing a rather piquant situation over temporary rehabilitation of traders at the South Goa Planning and Development Authority's (SGPDA) wholesale fish market to facilitate construction of a new modern market complex in its place, the planning body's chairman Krishna 'Daji' Salkar has sought the intervention of chief minister Pramod Sawant to clear the deadlock.
The construction of the new wholesale fish market by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) hit a roadblock after it was realised that the development of the alternative land for the makeshift market would entail an expenditure of over Rs 1 crore. GSIDC, it is learnt, has expressed its inability to pump in any additional financial resources for the project.
"The entire wholesale fish market needs to be set up at the alternative location, so that entails a lot of expenditure, apart from the cost of levelling the ground, etc," Salkar told TOI. "I have put a note to the chief minister and also discussed the matter with him the other day. We need to take a decision whether to shift the market or to continue with the existing arrangement. The chief minister is likely to hold consultations with GSIDC officials soon to explore any other alternative."
The SGPDA had identified four probable sites to temporarily shift the wholesale fish market so as to facilitate handing over of the market site to GSIDC. The new market that is being built under a centrally-funded scheme will have a cold storage facility as well as a facility for testing fish brought and sold there.
The SGPDA is also running out of ideas over how to spruce up its retail fish market given its high cost of maintenance. The stand-off between SGPDA and the retail fish vendors has only worsened the situation. Salkar warned of initiating action against the fish vendors if they refuse to fall in line.
"We fixed and repaired whatever was required on a priority basis in the retail fish market. Now the vendors have to cooperate. They say they won't pay anything above Rs 10 per day towards maintenance cost - this rigid attitude is unacceptable. I have told the SGPDA member secretary to invite the fish vendors for talks and resolve the issue. They will either have to pay the enhanced fees or face action," Salkar said.
The SGPDA chairman further said that a meeting of occupants of the SGPDA buildings will soon be held to discuss issues pertaining to maintenance and other things.