Stinking fish markets keep even civic workers away

Mangalore, March 15: The condition of the fish market near the State Bank Bus-stand is deplorable. Fish is sold in what appears to be unhygienic conditions.

Keeping the place clean is a problem as there are only two taps serving 400 fresh fish sellers and 200 dry fish sellers in the market. While one is at one end of the market, the other is defunct. Fish sellers said that for the past three months, they had not been getting water from the tap. They had been forced to buy water for Rs. 5 a bucket, which is sourced from a toilet. The buckets are dirty and waste is strewn around the ground, emitting foul smell.

The roof, made of asbestos sheets, is supported by a rusted iron frame. “The entrance is congested and has become unsafe for customers, especially women. There is no facility for women selling fish. Using the toilet is based on payment, which does make a difference to them,” they said. At the Jeppu fish market, fish sellers said they were told a month ago that the city corporation would improve the market. Since then, they have been managing without water and proper roof.

Their main complaint is that some vendors sell fish in goods autorickshaws and vans in front of the market, so not may customers enter the market. The fish sellers shift from one spot to another as the sun moves to get a relatively cooler place. Stagnant water and waste from the nearby shops selling chicken have compounded their problem.

A fish seller said there was a threat of malaria outbreak because of stagnant water and unhygienic conditions in the market. “But who bothers to clean the market? The corporation must take action,” she said. However, the waste dumped into the bin is being cleared regularly. Vasudev Boloor, general secretary of the Coastal Karnataka Fishermen's Action Committee, said that while the corporation authorities had seen the fish market at Madgaon and was convinced that the Mangalore fish markets must be upgraded on that lines, there was no political will. He said three meetings had been held on the issue.

One of the meetings was attended by J. Krishna Palemar, Minister for Ports and Fisheries, and in-charge of Dakshina Kannada.

The fish sellers hope that the proposed construction of 10 fish markets, announced in the budget, will benefit them.