The Consumer Conciliation Committee (CCC) of the state government's department of civil supplies conducted a site inspection of the SGPDA market complex in Margao on Wednesday. The inspection was part of proceedings in a citizen complaint alleging deficiency in services. The committee found the complex riddled with regulatory and infrastructural lapses.
Joint Inspection with Multiple Departments
The inspection was carried out jointly with several government departments, all of whom are respondents in the case before the CCC alongside the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA). The respondents include the urban health centre, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), the Margao Municipal Council, and the PWD.
Key Findings
CCC member Roland Martins, who headed the inspection team, said the complaint pertained to non-functioning lifts, broken footpaths, foul odour, and unhygienic surroundings. “The current inspection was to see the ground realities and identify solutions to the problems,” he said. The findings, he indicated, were far from reassuring. The market complex has no consent to operate from the GSPCB — a mandatory requirement — and has no functioning sewage treatment plant, both significant regulatory violations.
Complaint Background
The complaint had been filed by a citizen flagging the deteriorating state of the busy market complex, which caters to a large section of Margao’s population daily.
Next Steps
Following the inspection, the CCC will prepare a comprehensive report and submit its recommendations to the district collector, Martins said.
