MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council and the powers that be controlling the civic body have come under the scanner of citizens as vendors and hawkers made merry at the Old Market feast fair.
And, with Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar proceeding on two-week leave on medical grounds and the civic body closed for public during the weekend, questions were raised in the corridors of the Municipal building and outside, how the MMC will go about shutting the feast fair.
For, a visit to the Old market on Friday has revealed that the feast fair bustled with activity when curtains ought to have come down on the seven-day fair on Thursday. Considering the fact that it takes some time for the hawkers to wind off the business and dismantle the stalls, sources say one day grace period is normally given to the hawkers to shut the activity.
The moot question, however, remains unanswered “ will the Margao Municipal officials, including the Taxation officials and the market inspectors descend at the Old Market on Saturday to shut the activity or will they turn a blind eye to the illegal fair after the 7-day period.
Questions are further doing the rounds who will collect fees from the hawkers for carrying on the business beyond the 7-day period, offering avenues for unscrupulous and politically-connected elements to extort money from the beleaguered hawkers, many of whom are hailing from outside the State.
Chief Officer Sankhwalkar said he will not attend office from Monday on medical grounds, adding that it is for the Link Officer, the Mormugao Chief Officer to assume charge of office.
When his attention was drawn to reports that the Old Market feast fair is continuing beyond the 7-day period, the Chief Officer said the MMC officials should take action in the matter. “The MMC officials do not require instructions to act against the feast fair as it forms part of the routine duty of the officials and staff,” he added.
With the Chief Officer proceeding on leave and the civic body closed during the weekend, all eyes are focused on the Old Market, whether any of the civic officials will descend on the ground to crack a whip against the hawkers or allow the hawkers to have a field day for lack of action by the Municipal body.
