Congress slams MLA, municipality over imminent closure of Mapusa meat and fish market
MAPUSA: Following a notice issued by the Health Officer to seal and shut the Municipal Meat and Fish Market within seven days due to unresolved issues, the Congress Party on Saturday criticized the local MLA and municipality for failing to address the problems.
Present at the press conference were Councillors Adv. Shashank Narvekar, Sudhir Kandolkar, along with Dr. Pratiksha Khalap (President – Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress), Vijay Bhike (General Secretary – GPCC), and Naushad Choudhary (President – NSUI Goa).
“Mapusa is considered the North Goa capital. Bardez taluka’s major offices and businesses are located here, but Mapusa is heading in the wrong direction. There are no proper roads, no parking. The number of councillors were increased from 15 to 20 by former deputy and then local MLA CM Francis D’Souza, but despite that Mapusa’s development has remained stagnant,” Bhike stated.
Narvekar highlighted that an inspection of the fish and meat market revealed several shortcomings related to health and safety.
He said a meeting was held on October 10, and a final notice was issued on October 21 with a seven-day deadline. “Yet, nothing was done. No instructions were issued. The market committee has only done mismanagement and nothing else. We are ready to offer our assistance. Take up the works on urgency. Don’t put people in trouble. Come up with long-term solutions. We cannot accept the closure of the market,” Narvekar said.”
He also criticized the lack of desilting and restoration of dug-up roads.
“There is no seriousness. No one is addressing the issue, not even the chairperson nor the MLA. Helipads are set up in no time but they have no time to address these issues. If the market closes, what will happen? Where will the vendors go?” he asked. “The waste generated, how will it be addressed? Everyone will be affected. Parking and traffic management will be affected if the vendors are forced to shift on the roads.”
He added that the building was inaugurated in 2014, and a 2017 report indicated there was no No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Health Department. “The civic body should take NOC/licences from all departments for its own premises,” he said.
Narvekar also pointed out that a recently inaugurated commercial complex faces similar issues. “Now the first floor work is being taken up without the down floor having taken NOCs and are irregular,” he said. He added that the pork and meat complex also lacks facilities.
Stating that the market is in a bad condition, Kandolkar stated, “The market is famous even among tourists. Parking is a main issue. There are 175 shops, but these don’t have proper facilities like water and light.”
He said he had raised these issues in meetings and publicly on numerous occasions. “Parking plan facilities were planned but nothing was done. Waste collection tender was issued but still garbage is not addressed. It is a health hazard.”
Kandolkar added, “The sewerage plant – 10 years have passed since pipelines were laid, but work is starting now. MLA should focus on this. He needs to come up with a list of things needed for Mapusa and get it done to resolve these issues, or else the health department will keep blaming us. All the waste flows into the Tar River where Ganesh Visarjan is done. Roads are also not addressed.”
Speaking to reporters, Khalap criticised the municipality’s lack of interest in addressing the issues highlighted in the notice. “The issues are building maintenance, drinking water for vendors and people, ceiling fans not working, toilets for women, changing rooms,” she said.
She emphasized that most vendors are women and they are forced to sit in filth. “No provision for basic facilities. People should start questioning the government on these issues. If the market shuts down tomorrow, the local MLA is to be blamed. Will the MLA take accountability if jobs are lost to women vendors in the market?”
“The market is actually well planned but now its condition is in shambles. The MLA never raises any issues. There are mosquito breeding sites,” she added.
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