The Goan Network
Panjim
The street food gaddas in the square just behind Don Bosco High School are back to haunt the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP), with the CCP holding a special meeting just to decide their fate last week.
Though corporator of Ward 11, Soraya Pinto Makhija brought up concerns from residents of the area as well as school authorities that the food carts in that area are unhygienic, CCP Commissioner Ajit Roy was adamant in his stand that the food carts are there to stay.
When contacted by 'The Goan' about the decision taken about the food carts at the special meeting, Roy said, "We're maintaining the status quo regarding the food carts until we find a better solution." He also said that the square was beautified "by the Corporation" and that "the Corporation has taken the decision to continue there with the gaddas," adding that the "Corporation had developed the square for public welfare" and that "the decision about the food carts was also taken in public interest."
It will be remembered that Pinto Makhija had carried out a development cum beautification project of the square in CCP Ward 11 and the revamped square was inaugurated in March 2018.
The food carts from the Panjim Church Square were shifted to the Don Bosco Square in May 2018.
Pinto Makhija maintains that the decision to shift the carts there was taken without taking her into confidence and that the area was never meant to be a Hawkers’ Zone.
When contacted by "The Goan", she said, "The food carts are a menace as garbage is strewn all over making the area dirty and unhygienic, and could lead to the outbreak of an epidemic."
She also pointed out that there was a Sulabh toilet touching the food carts.
She expressed that though the Town Vending Committee had taken the decision to shift the food carts to the square, the decision was not put before the CCP Council, nor was there a CCP resolution to this effect.
When 'The Goan' had spoken to the vendors in July about being shifted there, they had expressed their unhappiness citing a 50% drop in customers, as tourists did not go there at all. They had said that being together defeated their purpose as they were initially spread out in different parts of the city serving people at different areas.
