Margao : Fish cutters and fish cleaners working at the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) wholesale and retail fish markets have complained about the lack of water facilities at the markets. Without running water, they said they are forced to make alternative arrangements to clean their work areas.
“We had requested the concerned SGPDA officials to provide us with water, even if only in small quantities, so we could clean our allocated areas daily. It’s not possible to fetch water from outside every day. If we skip cleaning even for one day, the place starts to stink,” said one fish cutter.
Another fish cutter said that they pay Rs 1,000 each month to the SGPDA, and an extra Rs 10 to the sopo collector and yet they have had to hire a private cleaner to wash the stalls and another private agency to collect the wastewater and other waste.
“We have hired a private cleaner who looks after all 16 units, collects the wastewater and other waste in a box, and then the private agency picks it up,” said the fish cutter.
Both workers refused to disclose their names, citing fear of harassment.
At present, there are 16 fish cutters and about 25 women fish cleaners in the retail market and around 40–50 fish cutters in the wholesale market.
Waste generated by the fish cleaners is collected by waste collectors.
One cleaner in the retail market denied allegations that waste is dumped openly or in paddy fields and causes nuisance in the vicinity.
An SGPDA official said, “How can we give them top-class service with the meagre amount they pay, despite earning a sizeable amount.”
A visit to the SGPDA retail market areas suggested that watery waste is not regularly collected, allowing stray dogs to feed on it and spread it in surrounding areas. At the wholesale fish market, waste was seen dumped in adjacent areas, from where it could easily flow into nearby water bodies.
