MARGAO
On the eve of the seven-day Purumentachem fest fair at the Old Market, beginning Sunday, spirited citizens on Saturday charged the Margao Municipal Council and other government authorities of disobeying the 2015 High Court Order regulating the fair.
The citizens comprising of Savio Coutinho, columnist Jose Maria Miranda and Iftiyaz Sayed have warned they would be forced to file a Contempt Petition before the High Court by naming the officials responsible for turning a blind eye to the violations at the fair.
Displaying the High Court Order, Coutinho reminded that the High Court had passed the 2015 Order permitting the Council to conduct the fair at any one of the three options proposed by the authorities purely based upon the recommendation of various government authorities, (including the MMC).
He, however, lamented that the Council has haphazardly permitted setting up of the stalls in total contempt of the High Court order. “The order which was passed by the High Court keeping in mind public convenience has various conditions laid down. However, the Council has laid prioritized revenue collection over public convenience,” he said.
Coutinho charged that the prime interest that stands protected through this fair is the "interest" of a "benami" contractor who has the blessings of politicians from Margao.
"The MMC collects an amount of Rs 9600 per stall, which amount is inclusive of Sopo and Sanitation fees. We demand that the Chief Officer and Chairperson should make it public as to what amount is paid to the Sopo Contractor by the Council. We also demand transparency on the money collected from the hawkers that occupy the open or unmarked spaces and the passages. Lakhs of rupees are collected from these vendors, however, it is unknown where this collection goes,” Coutinho stated.
Activist and columnist Jose Maria Miranda strongly criticized the Chief Officer and the Chairperson for disrespecting public sentiments and arrogantly proceeding to disobey the court directions.
“The traditional Purumentache Fest, would originally consist of stalls of home provisions in view of the monsoon season that followed. However these traditional stalls of dry fish, local sweets and other eatables are dumped in some corners, and non-provision items like readymade, second use garments have taken centre stage in the fair," Miranda lamented.
Iftiyaz Sayed, a local, called upon the authorities to be sympathetic to the hardships faced by Madel residents during the fair period.
