The biggest hazard to the Church goers in Valpoi is the Fish Market run on the road. Though there is an existing market shed the fishmongers do not sit inside it but prefer to sit on the road and sell the fish just outside the market shed. This is the only road that leads the Catholics to the church on week days as well as Sundays.
It stinks all along the road and one gets the aroma of the fish even inside the Church. The situation during the monsoons is worst; one can hardly step on the road. Repeated requests to these sellers of fish have fallen on deaf ears.
Though the shed Market exists still the fisher folk refuse to sit inside. Many complaints were lodged at the Valpoi Municipal Council, but the Municipal authorities too pay a deaf ear to the plight of the Church Goers and those walk by. A number of times the Municipal Authorities that came to the area to attend the complaint, would take bribe and disappear. No action till date has been taken.
The fish mongers know that they can easily bribe the Municipal officials and get away with it. I myself acted many a times but all my efforts were in vain. Two days they would move in the market on the third day they would be seen sitting on the road again lined up.
In addition to this they also dump the fish waste into the Church property, inspite of several warnings not to do so.
The photographs will speak for themselves. No one seems to be bothered about this. But this plight of ours seems to be overlooked. The Valpoi Municipality which lives on bribery is least bothered.
The only closest access to the people from Ward No. 3 going to the Church is this road that is used as a fish market. As the people come to the Church from Ward No3, in fact the whole KRISTANV WADDO by the time they reach inside the Church they would smell of fish themselves. Every Chief Officer that came to Valpoi has never bothered to do away with this menace.
The elected representative or those known as COUNCILLORS are totally bribery prone. The present Chairperson Umesh Gulelkar who was previously the Vice Chairperson used to come around and take away free fish from the fish mongers there by he never allowed any action against this fish selling outside the market complex.
Umesh Gulelkar was seen taking away fish free by myself a couple of times and when I enquired with the lady selling fish if he had paid she cursed and said that he mostly does not pay for the fish he takes. But she said at least because of him they can sell the fish sitting outside the Market complex.
Such are the current Councillors who are elected to the Municipality, who cannot do away with this hindrance especially to the Church goers. Now as a chairperson I am sure that he must be enjoying abundantly, a man with little knowledge and basic education a nut that runs the Valpoi Municipality will never help the Catholics walk to the Church on a clean road, Road which is made for people to walk on is being used to sell fish despite the existing market shed.
Well Mr. Menino, you can forget any help from the govt authorities. The workers of all the municipalities are chor. The present day councillors are bigger chors than even the polished chors politicians as they loot the poor people like the fisherfolk. No one will be bothered whether you go to the church or you go for a dance. As long as they get the bribes so the road will be for selling fish.
ReplyDeleteIf after several complains the fish vendors does not go then all of you Valpoikar get together and take the law in your own hands, simple! Thrash the vendors with a whip! Valpoikars have to sort out the mess from their own locality
ReplyDeleteWho bothers anymore about the lives of Goans, None of the Governments who come to power care about Goans. When the masters are corrupt it sets similar examples to the municipality officials. The best fish catch of the day is sent to the officials houses with motor cycle pilots together with haft in cash.
ReplyDeleteIt is a sad state of affairs in every part of Goa. Everyone has to earn money but it should be done is a control and safe environment. Those that monitor the vendors are themselves corrupt and take bribes, so who will monitor the monitors?
ReplyDeleteI think the Parish Priest should consult Parishoners and churchgoers to find out if the "smell" of decaying fish sold near to the church is offensive.
ReplyDeleteWith all the fans in Church running,it must make any smell spread all over the inside of the church.
Many people wear their best clothes and perfume to Church.So this smell could also make their clothes smell.
Surely this is not accceptable.
Following consultation with Churchgoers, the Parish Priest should make a representation to the Panchayat to re-locate the Fish sellers to a more acceptable location or enforce the sale of fish inside the market.
This must seem like a "FISHY TALE"...but I hope the Church goers will "TAIL" this smelly sale of Fish.
Selling Fish outside the homes of the Panchayat members may awaken them into reality, to consider enforcing the sale just outside a Church,where masses gather.