PANJIM: Though Goa boasts of high human development indices, Panjim’s filthy fish market will put any Ponjekar to shame. Early morning fish lovers have to dodge the narrow passages of the fish market, and the slippery floor to fetch their prized ‘catch’. But this is an ominous task, since Panjim does not have a well planned, clean fish market, even as Goa is nationally billed high on the health parametres.
The shocking reality is the Panjim fish market has been erected on a road, after fisherwomen refused to sit in the three storied adjoining building, which was the intended fish market. Now that place is used by those cleaning fish and selling chicken. The fish market and its surroundings are so filthy that they churn your guts with the nauseating smell at the beginning of the day.
Fisherwomen complained that at many places the gutters are open and the roof is leaking. One woman said sewage water was passing through a section of the market. The market has no water, no toilets for men and women. Why has the Smart City not paid attention to constructing a decent market, since the present one is situated on the road?
In the fish cleaning section, fish waste was dumped into the gutter. Shockingly, scores of worms were seen feeding on the fish waste.
Albertine, who has been selling fish in Panjim market for decades said, “The gutter passes right below the place they sit. The gutter gets choked frequently and the filthy black water overflows where they sit. The municipality workers have kept the gutter slabs open, so that if it is choked they can clean it up. It is dangerous to sit here since we may fall in the gutter. I have purchased a Rs 3000 slab to cover the gutter, below so that I don’t fall into it.”
Another fisherwoman Leandrine Fernandes stated, “The toilet was broken and now they are rebuilding it. But they don’t work continuously to complete it fast. We have great difficulty, especially since we are women. If we go to the new market to use the toilet by leaving our fish, the crows take away our fish. There is no tap water her. They had promised long ago that they would put a pipeline, but they haven’t. We don’t want to talk against the authorities, but we are telling the truth. We are tired of telling, I hope if we tell the media, they will see and complete the toilets fast.”
Another fisherwomen who sits in the intended fish market said, “ Nobody cares for us. We do not get many customers by sitting here. The metal sheets over our head are leaking. Many times we have told the CCP staff. They only give assurances and never return.”
A chicken vendor said, “The CCP collects chicken waste and garbage daily. The chicken waste is collected separately. There is no problem. We have to pay tax and the give a receipt. There is no problem regarding cleanliness. Only it leaks in the rainy season.”
Being the capital city it remains to be seen when Panjim, will get a full fledged market. There are plans of demolishing the storied fish market which was never used. The question is when will this happen. Till then Panjimites will have to continue to suffer the stench each morning.