Team Goemkarponn
FATORDA: Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on Thursday accused the SGPDA of delaying the inauguration of the redeveloped Margao wholesale fish market due to alleged collection of haftas (illegal weekly fees) from market vendors.
Speaking to the media, Sardesai, a member of the SGPDA, claimed he would expose the hafta racket to reveal who benefits from these collections. He criticized the PDA Chairman, MLA Krishna Salkar, for awarding the housekeeping tender worth Rs 2.5 lakh to a BJP worker from Ponda, despite the market being located in Madel-Fatorda. According to Sardesai, the lack of proper maintenance has left the market in a dilapidated and unhygienic condition, affecting local residents.
“The BJP and the government are thriving on hafta collections while residents of Fatorda bear the brunt of the market’s mismanagement,” Sardesai said. He added that he had earlier requested the government to shift the market to Old Mardol following formalin-related concerns, stressing that locals do not want the market in their area.
Sardesai also alleged that the iconic Tinto building at Old Market has been converted into a gambling den, claiming he has raised the matter with PWD Minister Digambar Kamat and South Goa Superintendent of Police Santosh Desai.
