the goan I network
VASCO
Amid apprehensions that the famous Vasco Saptah could exceed seven days, Mormugao Deputy Collector Mahadev Arondekar on Friday made it clear that the Damodar Bhajani Saptah in Vasco would only be for seven days, with no extension to stalls.
Arondekar was speaking to reporters after a special meeting was convened with heads of government departments concerned to decide and plan important strategies ahead of the Saptah.
Arondekar also went through several proposals put up and all necessary documents and permissions were reviewed at the meeting.
“Strict directives have been issued to Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) to ensure that the Saptah will be held for a period of seven days only. A resident had approached the high court in this regard and the court had issued orders to clear the stalls after seven days, to avoid causing inconvenience to public,” said Arondekar.
“The MMC has been directed to clear all stalls by night on Day 7 and encroachments will be cleared by an MMC team with the help of Vasco police. They are jointly responsible to clear encroachments so that emergency services like ambulances and fire tenders can move from Day 8 onwards,” he added.
Arondekar also informed that MMC and Police were directed to avoid plastic bags during Saptah, adding that MMC had arranged for paper bags.
Vasco PI Nalasco Raposo said the police would interact with MMC and the Navy regarding security and had asked MMC to install 25 CCTV cameras during the Saptah.
PI Raposo also said there would be 10 watch towers and 300 police staff, including commandos, to provide security during the Saptah.
“All stall owners have been directed to get verification of their staff done with the police prior to Saptah,” said PI Raposo.
Traffic Police Inspector Roy Pereira said there would be no movement of heavy vehicles on the first two days of
Saptah.
“During the next five days of the festival, traffic will be allowed only from 10 pm to 7 am and from 2 pm to 4pm, as fuel was required for aviation,” said PI Pereira.
He said that dumps and debris would be cleared along the Kharewado road, which would be used during Saptah for emergency movement.
