Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: The Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC), along with revenue and police authorities, on Friday launched a crackdown on illegal wholesale fish trading activities at Kharewado and warned operators to immediately shift to the notified Baina fish market.
MMC Chairperson Girish Borker, Deputy Collector Prataprao Gaonkar, MMC Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik and Vasco PI Vaibhav Naik conducted a joint inspection of the area where wholesale fish business has allegedly continued despite repeated notices from authorities.
Speaking to reporters after the inspection, Borker said wholesale fish trading at Kharewado would no longer be allowed following the notification of the Baina fish market and the new Vasco fish market for such activities.
“We have conducted multiple inspections earlier and had arrived at a solution allowing wholesalers to function from the Baina fish market. Vendors from the new Vasco fish market repeatedly complained that they were losing customers as wholesalers continued operating illegally from Kharewado,” Borker said.
He added that the MMC had already passed a resolution on the issue and sought intervention from the Deputy Collector.
According to Borker, wholesalers had initially agreed to shift operations but allegedly continued business at the same location. He said officials had now issued a final warning and directed authorities to remove sheds, baskets and illegally parked vehicles from the stretch.
“This is the last warning being given on humanitarian grounds. Strict action will be initiated if the illegal trade continues,” he stated.
Deputy Collector Prataprao Gaonkar said preliminary observations during the inspection indicated that the wholesale activities at Kharewado were illegal and that several operators may not possess valid trade licences.
He further alleged that fish trading activities were being carried out after office hours to avoid official scrutiny.
Gaonkar said the administration, in coordination with the MMC and police, would take immediate steps to stop fish sales along the entire stretch and also direct the RTO to act against illegally parked vehicles in the area.
