MARGAO
The congested Margao municipal markets are back again in the news, but for a different reason.
If councillor Sadanand Naik thundered at a Council meeting that the Municipal New Market has become a Marwari market, another ruling councillor Mahesh Amonkar on Monday claimed that the MMC Gandhi market is turning into a Bihari market.
Addressing the media, Amonkar pointed out that outsiders, more so from the North Indian state of Bihar are eyeing the Gandhi market to take over the shops. He cited instances of how the shops leased to the original parties have now been sublet to outsiders in lieu of huge rent.
Citing the latest case wherein a Sheikh has lodged a complaint with the Margao Municipal Chief Officer, Amonkar said two shops in the Gandhi market have been amalgamated into one by razing down the wall without taking the civic body’s permission.
“Both the shops are joined into one now after removing the middle wall of the building,” he said while demanding action.
The MMC councillor has demanded a detailed panchanama by the Market inspectors to ascertain the status of the two shops in the Gandhi market, saying: “If the panchanama shows that the middle wall of the building has been razed down to amalgamate the two shops, the MMC should take back the two shops immediately.”
He has urged the Chief Officer as well as the Chairperson to set in motion the process to seal the two shops and return possession of the shops to the civic body.
