By Mitchell Wankhar
The news item regarding congestion at fish market, as well as the proposal of the KHADC Market Committee to revamp the entire fish market through the project to be funded by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFBD), compels the Iewduh Fish Market Association to enlighten the public on some key points. The fish market is located at the far end of the market area and hence to reach this market one has to judge the congestion right from Motphran. On entering the market place, one has to walk cautiously lest one tramples on goods sold by roadside hawkers who open shops at every vacant space and roadside all over the market as well as in front of any big or small shop. These makeshift shops protruding from the established shops result in tremendous amount of congestion in the market. However it must be brought to notice here that in the Fish Market there is no makeshift shop and stall at all.
As of now the Fish Market has more or less become a wholesaler’s market as fish shops are sold in retail in every nook and corner of the city resulting in consumers making their purchase from main market at Iewduh very minimally. The only time that the market is congested is around the afternoons for about two to three hours during the loading and unloading of fish that come from Assam. Again these fish are further transported to different parts of the city.
Those in the business do not solely depend on the Syiem of Mylliem, the so called custodian of the market and the onlooker of the welfare and cleanliness of the place. We have our own water supply in almost every wholesale shop to clean the market before closing our shops. We pay from our own pockets, on weekly basis for the purpose of cleaning the entire Fish Market on a daily basis. For the disposal of cartons ( Thermocol) we engage another set of people whom we pay on monthly basis. We also have our guards (chowkeedar) who parade through the Fish Market safeguarding it all night long. For the information of the public it needs to be told that in spite of having paid to the Dorbar Syiem of Mylliem all the necessary taxes (khajna) levied on us, the Dorbar has never lifted a finger to help look into cleaning the area.
Regarding revamping of the Fish Market, one has to mention that our fish market is located very much adjacent to the MUDA Parking lot which makes it very convenient for the fish to be loaded to the market without causing any health hazards, or inconvenience to the consumers. It is common knowledge that ours is a business that is a little filthy and dirty but we try our best to carry it out in a more hygienic manner and causing less hassle to those who come for marketing.
Relocating the fish sellers to any part of the market must be delved with intently as this would involve transporting of fish cartons all the way from the truck to the new place with the fish stench emanating and the water dripping out of the cartons all over the other shopkeepers as well as the buyers. This would certainly create an unhealthy and unhygienic atmosphere. Added to this, as of now the cost of unloading of fish from the truck to the market is Rs 20 per carton. If the fish market is shifted elsewhere who will bear the extra cost of transportation of the fish to the market? Will this not indirectly lead to an increase in the rate of fish?
Instead the Association would like to make a pertinent suggestion of good drainage system to be constructed all along the market so as to enable the sellers to keep the market clean. This is a job of the Syiem of Mylliem which was never carried out and we all know how the Syiem and his Dorbar perform their duties day in and day out.
Last but not the least, we would not like to tread the path of the markets like law Musiang, Jaintia Hills, Jowai, which falls on the Jowai Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council. The law Musiang was dismantled a long time ago but till date it has not been resurrected and has not seen the light of day. Instead it has become a dumping ground of the town’s garbage as well as a hub for all anti-social elements. It does not seem so difficult to perceive that right now, the Syiem of Mylliem and the KHADC have set their eyes only on the Rupees 4 crore and are thereby fighting tooth and nail to lay their hands on the project so as to reap maximum benefit personally.
Through this article the Fish Market Association also invites the print and electronic media to get in touch with members of the Association so as to enable them to have first hand information and a clearer picture of the matter.
(The author is President Fish Market Association, Iewduh, Shillong