Margao Municipal workers waiting for Goa police to lift away an illegal gadda near the KTC bus stand. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO: Margao Municipal Council’s planned action against an illegal kiosk allegedly erected by kin of Dy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar near the Margao KTC bus stand came a cropper after the Goa Police expressed its inability to provide protection on the excuse that the police have been deployed for Ganesh Chathurti bandobast.
A furious Margao Municipal Chairperson Lyndon Pereira charged Dy CM Ajgaonkar and the BJP government for pressuring the authorities to sabotage action against the illegal kiosk.
The storm brewing over the illegal gadda subsided around evening after the Dy CM told the media that he has requested the party to lift away the gadda from the site. He, however, reiterated his stand that the MMC should immediately conduct a survey of all the gaddas in both Margao and Fatorda and initiate action.
Demanding to know whether the gaddas near the KTC bus stand are legal in nature, Ajgaonkar said the gaddas removed upon the orders of the High Court have again come up in road widening areas. “The MMC should conduct a survey of all gaddas and take action”, he demanded.
Margao Municipal Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes had ordered the removal of the illegal gadda on Wednesday evening after Ward No 2 Councillor Johnny Crasto complained that an illegal gadda had come up near the KTC bus stand.
Sources said the MMC had mobilized its manpower in strength on Wednesday evening, but could not proceed with the removal of the kiosk for want of police protection.
The MMC workers again descended on the site on Thursday noon to execute the Chief Officer’s order, but the Fatorda police was found absent.
Fatorda Police station in-charge PI Kapil Nayak maintained that the MMC request for police protection came only after the personnel were deployed for Ganesh Chathurti bandobast. “Let the Civic body apply for police protection again”, he said.
MMC Chairperson Lyndon, who briefed the media at the site in the presence of Councillor Johnny Crasto said though the civic body was ready to initiate action against the illegal gadda, the police machinery has not cooperated with the drive.
Saying the gadda belongs to sister of Dy CM Manohar Ajgaonkar, Lyndon warned that attempts are being made to make Fatorda a Gandhi market. “The police are not cooperating because of political pressure. The BJP government is supporting these illegalities. If the BJP returns back to power, they will make Fatorda a Gandhi market”, he said, while making an appeal to the people of Fatorda not to vote for the BJP and save the constituency from becoming a Gandhi market.
Dy CM Ajgaonkar said the MMC Chairperson is free to initiate action against illegalities, if any, in the Gandhi market, but demanded that the MMC should take action in all the markets, including the wholesale fish market and other markets.
CO orders survey of all illegal
kiosks at Margao KTC Stand
MARGAO: As the illegal gadda near the KTC bus has kicked up a storm in the commercial capital, Margao Municipal Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes has issued an order directing the Municipal inspectors to carry out survey of all illegal gaddas at the Margao KTC bus stand.
The Chief Officer has told the Municipal inspectors to carry out the survey and submit the report immediately within a period of seven days from the issuance of the order.
The Chief Officer’s order has come after his office has received a complaint that there are illegal gaddas mushrooming near the KTC bus stand.
The Ajgaonkar-controlled Gandhi Market Vegetable, Readymade & Cloth Vendors Association has set 15-days timeline for the Margao Municipal Council to conduct a survey of the total number of gaddas located within the Municipal area of Margao and Fatorda.
