Fair activities restricted to designated locations
MARGAO
Ahead of the week-long Holy Spirit feast fair at the Margao Old Market, the district authorities have drawn attention of the local authorities to the High Court judgement issued to regulate the conduct of fairs held during the feasts of the Holy Spirit and Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in Margao.
Saying the court directives are aimed at maintaining public safety, sanitation, and traffic order, and ensuring minimal disruption to civic life, Deputy Collector, Avelina D’Sa Pereira has called for strict implementation of the High Court directives in both letter and spirit during the week-long fair.
The Deputy Collector has reminded the local bodies that the fairs are to be conducted only at the locations specified in the Court’s order, insisting that no deviation from the designated areas shall be permitted.
In view of the High Court order, the deputy collector has told the Margao Municipality and SGPDA to prohibit stalls on main roads, saying no stalls, kiosks, or temporary structures are to be erected along the main Panaji-Margao road leading to the Old Market Circle; the southern road towards Margao city and the eastern road leading to Ponda.
The Deputy Collector has insisted on the local bodies for mandatory safety, traffic, and sanitation measures, including proper waste disposal mechanisms and regular sanitation drives; demarcating parking zone with regulated vehicle entry; deployment of adequate police personnel for crowd control and law & order and the deployment on-site fire and health safety teams during the fair duration.
The Deputy Collector has directed the Chief Officer of MMC, the Member Secretary of SGPDA, the Dy Director (FDA) and the Sub-Divisional Magistrates of Salcete-I and II to ensure full compliance of the judicial directives. Any violation may amount to Contempt of Court, and responsibility will be personally fixed, the Deputy Collector warned.