A 15-member panel examining alleged irregularities in the South Goa Planning and Development Authority’s markets has begun an on-site inspection of Margao’s wholesale fish market, focusing on sanitation, public health, infrastructure, fire safety and the arrangement of stalls.
The inspection was conducted on Thursday under the leadership of Ganesh Barve, deputy collector and sub-divisional magistrate of Salcete. Officials from several government departments attended the exercise, which may continue for several days before a report and recommendations are submitted to the deputy collector.
The committee was formed on September 4 to assess the functioning and safety of the SGPDA retail market complex and wholesale fish market. Its mandate includes identifying problems at both facilities and recommending short-term, medium-term and long-term corrective measures, along with deadlines for implementation.
Representatives of the Margao Municipal Council and the SGPDA attended the inspection after being absent from the committee’s first meeting on September 10. Roland Martins of the Goa Consumer and Citizens Action Network said representatives from eight to 10 government agencies took part in Thursday’s inspection.
“The SGPDA wholesale fish market was inspected today, and the retail fish market will be inspected next. The SGPDA and the MMC, which were absent from the committee’s first meeting, were present today,” Martins said.
He added that agencies not present during the latest inspection would be called for the next round. The committee is expected to examine the retail fish market after completing its assessment of the wholesale facility.
The inspection also covers a facility that has already been built but is being used despite not having been officially declared operational. Martins said another inspection would be conducted once the wholesale fish market becomes officially operational. This creates a distinction between the market’s present use and the formal administrative process required for its operation.
For vendors and residents, the panel’s work will determine whether concerns at the market are limited to immediate maintenance issues or require wider changes to safety systems, sanitation arrangements, infrastructure and stall planning. The inspection is also bringing multiple agencies into the same review process, including the civic body and the planning authority responsible for the market complex.
The committee’s final report is expected to set out corrective measures across different time frames. Officials have not announced a specific date for submission, but the inspection is scheduled to continue, followed by an assessment of the retail fish market and further participation from agencies that were absent from the first round.
