the goan I network
VASCO
The Mormugao Municipal Council’s (MMC) drive against encroachments has turned out to be a blessing in disguise, with a survey by MMC revealing that most fruit vendors were operating without renewed trade licenses.
MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes said after a drive in the fruit market itself, fruit vendors had paid upto Rs 8 lakh as outstanding dues in barely two days. “In the second phase, MMC found that 90% of the 300-odd vegetable market vendors had also not renewed their trade licenses,” said Fernandes.
Fernandes was speaking to reporters after 300-odd vendors had gone to meet him with a request for additional space to conduct business after municipal inspectors began attaching goods kept outside the shops and by the roadside, thereby obstructing the pathways.
“Several shops in the market had also encroached on roads and also had various structures encroaching and protruding out of their shops, endangering public life.
Fernandes warned the vendors of strict action and even razing all illegal projections and extensions of the stalls, while also directing the vegetable vendors to clear their outstanding dues and renew their licenses before January 15. Fernandes said the MMC had received several complains from public that there were encroachments in the vegetables market.
“The MMC had resorted to precautionary measures to clear all encroachments in the market from January 1. Vendors in the new vegetable market had approached us because they know that they are the next in line to face action and 90% of the 300-odd vendors have no documents nor are their licenses renewed.”
“I cannot accept their request for additional space as it is not in my domain. Besides, we have high court directions to clear encroachments from public pathways and no projection, protrusion or extended shed can be allowed.”
“I have already ordered for machinery to cut all such illegal extensions and also started a confiscation drive and vendors must clear the encroachment on their own,” said Fernandes.
“Since they are running business for long time, I have got them together to sort out the issue. As per Municipal Act, I can directly raze their illegal structures without even informing them or giving them notice. But I am not doing it so they get time to make some changes in their stalls and pay all their dues and renew their licenses before we act.”
The MMC chief officer said if they have grievances, they could write to him and the matter would be placed before the market committee, who will inspect and submit a report to the standing committee, who in turn, would place the report before the
council meeting.
