Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: Tense scenes unfolded at the New Vasco Fish Market on Tuesday after fish vendors confronted officials during an inspection of drainage improvement works being carried out by GSUDA, triggering a heated exchange that required police intervention.
The inspection was attended by outgoing Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Girish Borker, GSUDA officials and other authorities.
The situation escalated when several fish vendors objected to the ongoing works, alleging that their long-pending grievances regarding the market had been ignored. As arguments intensified, police personnel rushed to the spot to prevent any law and order issue.
Congress leader Nandadeep Raut and former minister Jose Philip D’Souza joined the vendors and extended support to their protest. The vendors and opposition leaders criticised GSUDA, Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar and the authorities, alleging that the new fish market had failed to address the practical needs of vendors.
They claimed the market was designed without consulting the fish vendors who use it daily and pointed to several infrastructure shortcomings that they said were affecting their livelihood. They also questioned the drainage system and demanded immediate corrective measures.
Responding to the allegations, outgoing MMC Chairperson Girish Borker accused the opposition of creating unnecessary controversy over what he described as a routine inspection to improve the market’s drainage system.
Borker said he had earlier invited fishermen’s representatives, vendors and opposition leaders to inspect the market and offer constructive suggestions before work commenced to avoid misunderstandings. However, he alleged that instead of participating constructively, the opposition turned the inspection into a political platform to target the Vasco MLA, MMC and other authorities.
He maintained that the issue should have been resolved through dialogue rather than confrontation and urged representatives of all political parties to work together to find practical solutions for the benefit of fish vendors.
Police remained at the site until the situation was brought under control, while the inspection of the drainage improvement works continued amid the exchange of arguments between vendors, opposition leaders and officials.
