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Fish Representational photo
Canacona: A severe mosquito infestation at the Chaudi fish market, blamed on poor sewage management, clogged drains, uncollected garbage and stagnant water, has triggered demands from locals for an immediate clean-up and disinfection drive.Responding to complaints, Canacona MLA and sports minister Ramesh Tawadkar visited the market on Wednesday, heard the grievances of fisherwomen and assured them that construction of a new fish market would be completed on priority.The issue had sparked a protest by local Congress functionaries last week, during which they confronted Canacona municipal administrator Shankar Gaonkar over the market’s unhygienic conditions.Tawadkar said the project had been delayed due to technical issues but assured that a modern, well-equipped fish market would soon come up at the site. He said the facility would be reconstructed through the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), with around Rs 3 crore sanctioned for the project.GSIDC officials, municipal administrator Shankar Gaonkar, municipal inspector Yeso Desai, former municipal chairpersons Ramakant Gaonkar, Simon Rebello and Gandhesh Madgaonkar, among others, accompanied Tawadkar during the visit.Councillor Dheeraj Naik Gaonkar warned that the mosquito infestation posed a serious public health risk, with diseases such as malaria and dengue becoming more common during the monsoon because of stagnant water.Recalling previous dengue outbreaks in areas such as Gaodongrim, where health workers carried out door-to-door surveillance, he urged authorities to resume similar measures. He also appealed to residents to eliminate stagnant water, keep their surroundings clean and report fever symptoms promptly.
