Encroachment: Mapusa merchants' panel member caught on wrong foot

the goan I network
MAPUSA

But, an executive member of the Mapusa Merchants Association (MMA) has taken this liberty a bit too far.
In a clear snub to the civic authorities, Naresh Tivrekar, vice president of the MMA, has allegedly constructed a permanent enclosure right on the footpath in front of his shop to store his goods.
The enclosure made of iron mesh covers the front and the two sides of the footpath giving the owner extra space to store his goods.
Defending his executive member, Ashish Shirodkar, president of MMA said many other shopkeepers also displayed their wares on the footpath during the day and took them inside during the night.
He said there were attempts to vilify the MMA and its members. "In a recent anti-encroachment drive, the civic body had shifted the street vendors. But all of them have come back to their original place. So why are MMA members being targeted," Shirodkar asked.
Stating that it was a question of survival, he said the shopkeepers were paying so many taxes to the civic body but the vendors were paying none.
A young member of the MMA however differed with the president's view and condemned the act of the executive member.
"We need to practice what we preach. If we take morchas to the municipality and request the authorities to act against illegalities, then how can we indulge in such illegalities," he questioned clearly opposing the president's view.
Mapusa Municipal Council chairperson, Rohan Kavlekar informed that someone had brought the encroachment issue to his attention. "I had instructed the municipal inspector to look into the matter. When the municipal inspector visited the shop, the owner said it was a temporary arrangement and that he would dismantle it," Kavlekar said.