Says only rule of law can prevail, not mafia patronising illegalities
the goan I network
MARGAO
Babita’s agenda received full support from Margao city fathers and gadda traders, besides the Goa Forward Party and citizens of Margao, at a media briefing called by the Chairperson to explain Monday’s incident and to unveil a plan to action to deal with the encroachers.
Flanked by the city fathers, Babita told the media that the attitude of the Bihar native Vijai Singh was completely in defiance of the system and vowed to ensure that the rule of the civic body and not of the mafias will prevail in the city. “I have no ego over the issue when Vijai Singh said that I am here in the municipality for only five years. This is an insult to the city fathers and a slap on our face. It’s a wake up call for the municipality and the citizens. He has defied the entire system. This is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said, while assuring the citizens of Margao to order a clamp down immediately against illegal vendors, gaddas and hand carts operating in the city.
Lamenting that the market inspector concerned did not act against Singh based on a complaint by ward councillor Damu Naik, Babita said the episode may even raise the question of the integrity of the market inspector.
She said Chief Officer, Y B Tawde, has been told to issue an order authorizing the market inspector to work overtime to crack down on vendors squatting at the Comunidade Square between 6 pm and 9 pm. “I have told the CO to ensure that goods seized during the anti-encroachment drive should be directly auctioned or disposed as scrap, but in no case should be returned to the vendors,” she said, while making a fervent plea to Madgavkars to come together and join the battle to make the city a better place to live in. She said the issue of rehabilitation of the street vendors can be looked into after the operation. Former MMC Chairperson Arthur D’Silva said the entire council will rally behind Babita in the battle against encroachments, while asking Madgavkars to unite against illegalities.
President of the gadda traders, Prashant Naik, who is also Goa Forward Party spokesman, offered his full support to the council. “Let the civic body crack down on encroachers and illegal kiosks. The rule of law should prevail,” he said. GFP leader Mohandas Lolienkar that politicians supporting illegalities should be exposed by the civic body. CO Tawde said he will issue an order to the market inspectors to work beyond office hours from 6 pm to 9 pm.
