MARGAO
Hazard a guess why agencies such as the Fire Services, Food and Drugs Administration, Health, Margao Municipality, Excise do not walk the talk outside the Aquem side of the Margao railway station “ where one can get food items, right from omlet pav, to fish curry rice, veg and non-veg food, liquor beverages, etc.
Close to a dozen kiosks line up along the Konkan railway wall outside the railway station on the Aquem side, but inquires have revealed that legal and illegal gaddas operate in the area without any fear of the law or the law enforcing authorities. Indeed, why officials of these agencies prefer not to treat outside the Aquem side of the Margao railway station still remains a mystery.
Otherwise, consider this: A latest inspection carried out by the Margao Municipal sanitation section upon orders of Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes has unearthed what was feared all along “ illegal business activities carried out right under the nose of the authorities, including the Municipal body.
A head count has revealed that close to nine kiosks are operating along the wall, with nearly 3-4 gaddas sans the mandatory trade licence. When the inspection team descended at the kiosks, a vendor was busy frying fish, while customers were having lunch in another kiosk. This has raised a pertinent question in the corridors of the Margao civic body whether the FDA, which had in the past conducted raids in the commercial capital, had ever descended at the station road to carry out surprise inspection.
The inspection of the area has further revealed that a couple of structures in the area, not these kiosks, were involved in the sale of liquor. A couple of structures were offering both veg and non-veg food, again raising questions whether the Margao Municipal officials had ever inspected these structures in recent times.
What’s interesting to note is the fact the place was inspected by Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Babita Angle Prabhudesai a fortnight ago when she had attended a programme at the Margao railway station, but the ground reality has remained unchanged then and now. After her inspection, the Municipal Chairperson had vowed to crack a whip against what she had termed as rampant illegalities, but in vain.
Incidentally, a day after the inspection of the area carried out by the Sanitary inspectors Viraj Arabekar and Sanguelkar, the corridors of the civic body was abuzz with speculations that the Municipality may wind up the drive in the area following political pressures from many quarters.
Chairperson Babita, however, told The Goan that she is confident that both the MLAs, Digambar Kamat and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai will not interfere in the Municipality’s plan to initiate action against the illegalities. In fact, the Municipal Chairperson exuded confidence that both the MLAs will back the Municipality in the ongoing drive against illegalities, including the rampant illegalities outside the Aquem side of the railway station.
