OLD GOA
After more than a year and two months, the displaced GMC kiosk owners and fruits/vegetables vendors were finally given allotment letters of shops in the complex built outside the GMC complex.
The letters were handed over by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to around 28 beneficiaries in the first phase, in the presence of PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral, St Cruz MLA Rudolf Fernandes, North Collector Mamu Hage and others.
Speaking at the function in Panaji on Monday, Sawant said the government has fulfilled its promise of rehabilitating the kiosk owners and fruits/vegetables vendors as it is concerned about the welfare of Goans.
“The government was concerned about the displaced persons, due to which the rehabilitation project was worked out,” said Sawant, while stating that it cost over Rs 3 crore.
“The allotment process was done in a transparent manner with a minimum monthly rent of Rs 1,000 being fixed by consulting the vendors,” he added and informed that the remaining vendors will be allotted shops in the second phase, for which they will have to approach the Collector with the necessary documents.
Further, the CM warned that after four days from now, nobody should be seen doing business on the roads.
“Everybody will have to do business from the shops. The North Collector will do strict monitoring to ensure the same so that ambulance services are not obstructed at any cost,” Sawant said.
“From next Monday, nobody should sit outside and no more chaos should be created,” Sawant said and stated that it is the first such initiative that has been undertaken by any government wherein a project has been specifically built for rehabilitation of affected vendors.
Later, speaking to reporters, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral said that he will not allow the shops to be sub-let.
“The beneficiary or the immediate relation should do business at the shop. If a third party is seen, then the shop will be sealed,” Cabral warned.
On the issue of lack of ventilation, Cabral said authorities will work out a solution to resolve the issue.
When questioned on the extension by Deendayal kiosk owners, Cabral said that since the kiosks were issued under the Chief Minister’s Rojgar Yojana, the CM would be in a better position to answer the query.
