Margao: The committee probing alleged irregularities in South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) markets conducted its second on-site inspection at the retail fish market in Margao on Tuesday. Among the major violations identified were irregular collection of waste and hazardous electric wiring, open drains, and improper water facilities.The inspection followed the panel’s first round at the wholesale fish market on Oct 22. Ganesh Barve, deputy collector and sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Salcete, heads the 15-member committee.Roland Martins of the Goa Consumer and Citizens Action Network (Goacan), a member of the committee, said the panel’s task is to identify weaknesses and the statutes under which action can be initiated.“Our task is to identify the weaknesses and determine under which statute action has to be initiated. During today’s inspection, we identified violations pertaining to irregular collection of waste and hazardous electric wiring, among others,” Martins said.He said each department represented on the committee will submit its report and recommendations to the collector.The panel also found what Martins described as grey areas. “We have also identified some grey areas, in the sense that some of the violations do not fall under any of the departments on board the committee,” he said.“The collector is expected to act on the reports and recommendations,” Martins said.The panel was formed on Sept 4 to ensure public health, safety and proper functioning of the SGPDA retail market complex and the wholesale fish market. It is mandated to inspect both facilities, assess sanitation, public health, infrastructure, fire safety and stall arrangements, and recommend corrective measures with deadlines. The committee is expected to suggest short-term, medium-term and long-term measures to address the problems identified.The newly built wholesale fish market is currently in use even though it is not yet officially operational. Martins said another inspection would be held once it is made officially operational.
