South Goa Congress members Melwin Thomas Fernandes and Yogesh Nagvenkar have objected to the proposed outsourcing of operations at the Margao wholesale fish market to a private contractor, urging the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) to retain control of the facility.
In a letter submitted to the SGPDA on July 3, Fernandes and Nagvenkar said they did not oppose outsourcing work related to maintenance, cleanliness and upkeep of the market premises.
However, they said operational control and management of the wholesale market should remain with the public authority.
“We explicitly state that we have no objection to outsourcing the maintenance, cleanliness, and upkeep of the market premises to ensure hygiene,” the letter said. “We are vehemently opposed to handing over operational control and management to a private entity.”
The Congress members said the market was built to provide a trading platform for the local fishing community and warned that private management could affect traditional fishermen.
“The primary, foundational objective behind constructing this wholesale fish market was to provide a dedicated, secure, and fair trading platform for the local fishing community and not fish traders or agents,” they said.
They argued that a private contractor could introduce higher user fees, operating procedures and vendor arrangements that may favour larger commercial operators over local fishermen.
“Private operators are inherently driven by profit maximization, which frequently leads to inflated user fees, unfair SOPs, and the eventual side lining of local traditional fishermen in favour of large-scale commercial operators,” the letter stated.
Fernandes and Nagvenkar said decisions on market timings, zoning and vendor allocation should remain under public regulation. They added that the fishing community depends on the market for its livelihood.
“Operational management by a private entity strips away the democratic oversight that a public body like the SGPDA is mandated to provide,” they said.
The Congress members also called for a cold storage facility at the market, saying the infrastructure was needed to preserve fish and support fishermen during periods of high catch.
“Instead of shifting operational responsibilities to private parties, the SGPDA must focus on upgrading the market’s core infrastructure to address public health concerns,” the letter said.
They demanded a government-managed cold storage unit, stating that it could help preserve fish freshness and reduce concerns over the use of chemical preservatives.
“A dedicated cold chain is the only viable, long-term solution to preserve fish freshness naturally, completely eliminating the temptation or need for unscrupulous elements to use harmful chemical preservatives like formalin,” they said.
The letter added that cold storage could allow fishermen to hold surplus catch during bumper seasons instead of selling it immediately at lower prices.
“Cold storage will empower local fishermen to store excess catch during bumper seasons, preventing distress selling and ensuring a steady, safe supply of fish to Goan consumers at stable prices,” Fernandes and Nagvenkar said.
They urged the SGPDA to restrict any private contractor’s role to maintenance work, retain operational management of the market and hold a joint meeting with stakeholders and the fishing community before a final decision is taken.
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