MARGAO
Upping the ante against the December 8 Old market fair given the unprecedented traffic congestion in the old market area due to the ongoing sewerage works, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on Friday said the government should immediately intervene and take a call either to shift the fair or hold the fair in a restricted manner by allowing only traditional stalls such as sweets.
Sardesai further said if the council is hell-bent on holding the feast fair this time, the civic body may shift the site to the Costa ground or other open spaces in the city.
The Fatorda MLA warned the authorities to weigh the pros and cons of the fair before granting the permission, saying citizens will be forced to knock on the doors of the Judiciary for justice.
Addressing the media in the presence of councillors Lyndon Pereira, Vitorino Tavares and Nimesia Faleiro on Friday, Sardesai pointed out that citizens, who are connected to the Church have made it clear that the fair has no connection to the feast celebrated by the Holy Spirit Church.
“If the fair has no connection with the Church, then the civic body should do a re-think on holding the fair this time given the ongoing sewerage works at the Old market-KTC bus stand stretch. In the alternative, the council may have the fair in a restricted manner by allowing traditional stalls such as sweet marts. Or, they can restrict the fair to just 2-3 days,” he said, adding that readymade garments and giant wheels have never been part of village fairs.
He added: “While let us all celebrate the feast on December 8, let the fair activities be curtailed this year given the traffic congestion since the fair has got nothing to do with the religious activity.”
Citizens call on MMC chairperson to express concern over traffic chaos
MARGAO:
A delegation of citizens comprising Savio Coutinho, Jose Marie Miranda and Edwin called on the Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar on Friday to express their concern over the traffic chaos that would take place in the old market area of the city on account of the feast fair near KTC bus stand.
In a memorandum submitted to the Chairperson, the delegation raised serious concerns over the likelihood of total traffic chaos in the old market and requested to review the permission for the setting of the feast fair along the main highway, in the municipal land opposite KTC bus stand/near St Francis Xavier Chapel at Madel.
“The cause of this concern is on account of the digging of the National Highway near the KTC bus stand, for the construction of sewerage network chambers. On account of this work, the two lanes on the eastern side of the highway have been blocked from KFC to the southern end of the KTC bus stand, and the road on the western side of the divider has been converted into a two-way, thereby hampering the smooth flow of traffic,” the memorandum stated.
They pointed out that the sewerage department on one hand claims that the said work cannot be suspended due to its urgent nature, in view of the river Sal pollution issue. On the other hand with the fair stalls being set up in large numbers, hordes of people and vehicles will be drawn to this fair, and create traffic chaos beyond the control of the police, they said.
The delegation requested the chairperson to review the decision of conducting the feast fair, specifically due to the most certain traffic chaos, on account of the digging of the road, warning that the Chairperson will be squarely blamed for any untoward incident.
In the alternative, the delegation has suggested shifting the fair inside the SGPDA ground this time round.
After giving the delegation a patient hearing, Chairperson Damu Shirokdar exuded confidence that the traffic police will be able to manage the gridlock along the KTC-old market stretch during the fair.
