Vendors seek clean-up of Quepem fish market

Margao: Vendors operating out of the temporary fish market in Quepem have raised concerns over unchecked growth of grass and bushes around the premises, warning that the overgrown vegetation has created unhygienic conditions on the site.

The vendors said the encroaching wild growth has turned patches around the market into a breeding ground for pests, with fears that reptiles, mosquitoes and other insects could make their way into the market area. The concern is particularly acute on Sundays, when footfall peaks during the weekly market and larger crowds of buyers throng the premises alongside regular vendors.

“The vegetation around the market has been left unattended for a long time now. It is not just an eyesore, but a genuine health hazard for those of us working here every day,” a vendor said, adding that snakes and other reptiles have occasionally been spotted near the stalls.

Vendors have appealed to the Quepem municipality to step in urgently and clear the overgrowth, besides undertaking broader cleanliness and sanitation measures at the market. They said timely civic intervention was necessary to ensure a safer, healthier environment for both vendors and visitors, especially with the market continuing to operate out of temporary premises.