Mapusa fish mkt faces closure risk over sanitation lapses

Mapusa: Mapusa fish market complex faces shutdown after health services inspection on Thursday found its sanitation compliance measure unsatisfactory. Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has sought 15 days to rectify the issues.

The authorities said they will disconnect water and electricity supplies if the sanitation rules are not complied with.The inspection, supervised by Bardez deputy collector VarshaParab, followed a severe “intimation of disconnection” issued by the urban health centre (UHC), Mapusa.Health officials warned that the complex remains a “public health nuisance”, despite previous warnings.Health officer Dinesh Parab said the municipality’s efforts were unsatisfactory, citing the illegal discharge of sewage into open drains and the Tar river.Officials have also ordered the immediate removal of construction debris dumped within the market and criticised the lack of basic water facilities for vendors.The MMC has been directed to coordinate with the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) to fast-track pending structural works.Municipal engineer Vishant Naik said a dedicated sewage treatment plant is planned. Naik also said that a cleaning schedule and emergency contact numbers will be displayed following pressure from consumer rights advocate Roland Martins of Goacan.While MMC claimed that a cleanliness drive was done recently, the health services said strict action will be taken for non-compliance.