Mapusa traders call off proposed strike on Mon

MAPUSA

The Mapusa Merchants’ Association (MMA) has decided to call off their complete voluntary shutdown of Mapusa on Monday, after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant intervened in the matter and the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) accepted all four demands of the association.

The MMA had been stiffly opposed to the controversial sanitation fee imposed by the Mapusa Municipal Council as “arbitrary, irrational and unjustified”.

They had insisted on four non-negotiable demands, consisting of a revision of sanitation fee, no backdated recovery of fees for the past five years, refund of payments already made and extension of trade license renewal deadline of May 31 and late penalties waived.

On Saturday afternoon, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant convened a meeting with Deputy Speaker and Mapusa MLA Joshua D'Souza, MMA President Jitendra Falari, General Secretary Siddhesh Raut, Treasurer Rajesh Gavas, Vice President Anish Joshi and MMC Chief Officer Chandrakant Shetkar. Incidentally, MMC Chairperson Priya Mishal was not invited to the meeting.

The MMA delegation then presented all their demands before the chief minister. Following suggestions from the chief minister, the MMC chief officer accepted all four demands put forth by the MMA.

Later speaking to media persons, MMA President Jitendra Falari said: “Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and MLA Joshua D'Souza mediated and accepted our demands. In return, we thank the chief minister and MLA and will withdraw the proposed shutdown of Mapusa on Monday.”

Deputy Speaker Joshua D'Souza said all demands of the MMA had been accepted at the meeting.