OLD GOA
The displaced GMC kiosk owners and fruits/vegetables vendors have decided to suspend their chain hunger strike from Sunday, after assurances by St Cruz MLA Tony Fernandes and St Andre MLA Francisco Silveira that the rehabilitation plan will become a reality in one month.
However, the kiosk owners have said they will continue with a scaled down protest with around five persons sitting at the site for the next one month, from 9.30 am to 1 pm.
Arriving at the protest site along with St Andre MLA Silveira, St Cruz MLA Fernandes said their commitment of making the rehabilitation plan a reality on December 19 could not materialise due to technical reasons on account of ownership rights.
“On account of ownership rights, there was a delay. However, we sat with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and finalised everything. The work started from Thursday and the PWD principal chief engineer has informed me that the rehabilitation plan will become a reality in one month’s time,” said Fernandes and requested the kiosk owners and vendors to call of their chain hunger strike.
On the plan, Fernandes stated that compound wall will be taken around 7.5 metres inside.
“But first we are building the compound wall inside and then the outside compound wall will be demolished to pave way for the rehabilitation plan,” he added.
On his part, Silveira expressed regrets that the rehabilitation plan got delayed.
“Both of us are at fault and we hope that the kiosk owners and fruits/vegetables vendors would understand and call off their hunger strike,” Silveira pleaded.
“Now, the work has started. And we will see to it that the shops are handed to the kiosk owners in a month’s time as promised,” he assured.
While thanking both the MLAs, CM and others for their help, kiosk owner Domnic Pereira informed that they are suspending their chain hunger strike for now.
“However, we are going to continue our agitation with 4-5 persons sitting at the protest site, for one month, to ensure that the work continues,” Pereira added.
Meanwhile, both the MLAs broke the hunger strike of the two women, Sameera Shirodkar and Harsha Gauns, who were continuing the chain hunger strike on Saturday, by offering them juice.
Earlier in the day, GPCC President Girish Chodankar paid a visit to the striking kiosk owners and vendors to extend Congress’ support to their agitation.
Chodankar also promised that the Congress will ensure their rehabilitation when they come to power in 2022.
Chodankar further chided the government for failing to rehabilitate the kiosk owners and vendors before undertaking the demolition drive.
