A wake-up call for Mapusa market! A citizen's complaint and a stern warning from the Urban Health Centre (UHC) finally jolted civic officials into action, prompting a much-needed cleanup of the Mapusa fish and meat market. This bustling commercial hub had sadly fallen into a state of disrepair, highlighting a concerning pattern.
Following the health authorities' directive, a joint inspection by the UHC and the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) revealed that some progress has been made. However, the question on everyone's mind is: Will this newfound cleanliness last? Or is it just a temporary measure to appease the authorities?
Mapusa Market Committee Chairman Sainath Raul acknowledged the lapses in hygiene, stating that maintaining cleanliness isn't solely the civic body's responsibility. "The market draws visitors from across Goa and many tourists. Cooperation from vendors and shopkeepers is essential," he emphasized. He admitted that the civic body should have acted sooner but noted that efforts are now underway to improve the market environment. "We've achieved about 70-80% improvement. Waste at the entrance is cleared, and we've asked the electricity department to remove unused poles. Staircase lighting will be restored soon," he added.
The MMC has also sought GSUDA's help to remove unused machinery, and cleaning is now done three times a day. Boards displaying cleaning schedules will be put up soon, and fines will be imposed for spitting or littering. "New taps will be installed in the fish market, and 'no spitting' boards are being erected," he said.
But here's where it gets controversial... Despite the officials' attempts to showcase the cleanup as progress, residents remain unimpressed. Concerned citizen Mahesh Rane criticized the civic body for acting only after the UHC's notice. "The officials only woke up when the health department stepped in. The market was so filthy that I challenge MLA Joshua D’Souza to spend even 15 minutes there," Rane remarked. He demanded at least 50 permanent workers to maintain cleanliness.
Echoing these sentiments, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Jitesh Kamat said the UHC's intervention was a much-needed wake-up call. "The notice was an eye-opener. But why did the MMC act only after being pushed? This shows a clear lack of accountability and apathy towards public health," he stated. Kamat urged the council to sustain the cleanliness drive and suggested installing CCTV cameras to identify offenders.
And this is the part most people miss... This entire episode underscores a troubling reality: that action on public hygiene is often triggered not by civic responsibility, but by external pressure. What are your thoughts? Do you think the cleanup efforts will be sustained? Should there be stricter measures in place? Share your opinions in the comments below!
