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Alemao seeks 2 months time to tone up SGPDA market BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 8 - Making his appearance felt in the SGPDA market for the second time in a week, Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao on Wednesday issued a 24-hour deadline to the fish vendors to sit on the platforms in the market and sought two month's time to put the mega market in order. Taking note of the messy situation, he told the PDA to for termination of contracts if the contractors are found wanting in their duties. Accompanied by PDA Chairman, Shantaram Kadam, Member Secretary Diniz and MMC Chief Officer, Melvyn Vaz, Alemao this morning took a round of the vegetable and fish sheds to review the progress of his earlier directions to maintain the market clean and hygienic. He told the PDA to ensure that fish vendors sit on the platforms and allow free movement of customers. By evening, most of the fish vendors were found sitting on the platforms. Expressing satisfaction over the cleanliness, Alemao, however, called for an improvement in the situation, saying much needs to be done in the market. PDA Chairman Kadam informed the Minister that the PDA has already initiated steps to connect the sheds with power and water supply. The Minister, however, told Kadam to expedite the process and to also replace the damaged gate immediately. Alemao later told newsmen that he would require at least two months time to put the entire market in order. He, however, said that things are moving in the right direction. On garbage collection, he said that 50 per cent of the problem has been resolved and issued instructions to the MMC Chief Officer to help improve things in the market. He also asked the PDA chairman to take a round of the market regularly. When newsmen asked him that the MMC has failed to clear the vegetable hawkers from the wholesale fish market, Alemao said "these hawkers hail from the surrounding locality. They sell their daily vegetable produce and disperse. For the moment, I don't want to disturb their means of livelihood". Alemao said these vegetable hawkers would be accommodated in the PDA market once the vacant stalls are identified and re-auctioned. "All the vacant stalls in the PDA will be allotted to the deserving people", he said. -- Peace be with you! Gabe Menezes. London, England
