Panaji: The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) on Saturday shifted fish vendors at the Panaji market from the temporary shelter to the previous shed which has been refurbished.
Several fish vendors said that they were not given prior notice about the move.
“We were only told in the morning to move from this shelter to the new shed,” said one vendor.
“This place is better than the previous one as it spacious,” added another vendor. Over 300 vendors, including fish cutters, are occupying the new shed.
“However, the facility is not fully equipped. We need proper seating arrangements and a drainage system,” said a vendor.
“We used to pay sopo for the old shed, and we pay sopo here also. For a small box area, the minimum sopo is around Rs 15,”
a vendor said.
CCP councillor and chairperson of the market committee, Bento Lorena said that the relocation was part of an ongoing project costing the corporation around Rs 1 crore.
“While the roofing has been replaced, there are still some tasks left to complete such as installing stainless steel counters as well as fans and lighting. Drainage systems have been put in place before laying the kota stone flooring tiles,” Lorena said.
The addition of stainless steel counters aims to improve hygiene standards for vendors and customers.
Lorena also said that the current shed is temporary and that the fish vendors will eventually be relocated to the new market complex on the ground floor, where the facilities will be permanent and modern.
