Panaji fish mkt set for hygiene upgrade with steel counters

Panaji: Fish market vendors in Panaji market will soon sell seafood items on elevated stainless-steel counters. These counters will be convenient for vendors by improving space and hygiene.The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has floated a tender to provide counters for at least 316 fish vendors in the market. As of now, these vendors are selling fish on the pavers under the temporary shed constructed by the CCP last year.A CCP official said the market vendors need urgent upgrades. “The market vendors don’t operate in clean areas. They sit at the pavers all day selling fish. They don’t seem comfortable in that setting.

The market is also always wet and mucky because of the drainage issues, and it causes the stench to stay there and grow more pungent,” said the official.The project’s estimated cost is Rs 48 lakh, and the work period is 45 days (including monsoon). The work will start 15 days after the work order.The official said that the project is still in the tendering process and the contractors have not yet submitted bids. The market shed is being constructed where an old market building was demolished due to structural integrity issues.

Many fish vendors earlier complained about the market shed’s hygiene and requested the CCP for a space to clean the drains to avoid the accumulation of wastewater on the pavers. A fish vendor said that the floor often gets slippery and is difficult to walk on. “The water is supposed to be collected by the drains, but instead, it stays at the surface throughout the day. The stench becomes impossible to bear,” the vendor said.