The land that was acquired by Margao Municipal Council around a decade ago for permanent rehabilitation of displaced gadda operators.
Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO: Will the authorities in Margao Municipal Council shed light on the status of the much-hyped permanent rehabilitation scheme for displaced city gadda operators following the order of the High Court in 1997? Or, is the scheme confined to the dusty records of the Margao civic body? Is it that the rehabilitation scheme has no takers presuming that a centralized plan may not serve their interests?
These and other questions have come to the fore after last week’s uproar in the commercial capital after an illegal gadda surfaced near the KTC bus stand with political patronage. That the illegal gadda has now been removed, bringing much relief and an end to the controversy, the contention that rehabilitation of displaced gadda operators at road widening areas has run contrary to the High Court order has brought to centre stage the issue of gaddas and their permanent rehabilitation.
Pending their permanent rehabilitation, some of the displaced gadda owners have been rehabilitated temporarily at the old market area, pick-up stand, near the KTC bus stand et al.
Inquiries have revealed that the Margao Municipal Council had acquired a plot of land near the old market circle for the avowed purpose of rehabilitation of the displaced gadda operators. It’s now over a decade since the MMC had acquired the land in question, but the planned multi-storyed building is yet to take shape.
The reason is not far too seek. While the civic body had years ago drawn up a permanent rehabilitation scheme to be executed on the acquired land under the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA), the plan hit a block after the scheme was unveiled sans taking the gadda traders into confidence.
Secondly, and more importantly, questions have been raised by the displaced gadda traders whether the scheme would benefit them or ruin their business, contending that shifting all the displaced gadda traders under one roof may not be in the interest of the traders.
Says Margao Gadda Traders Association President Prashant Naik: “We had expressed our strong reservations to the permanent rehabilitation scheme for the displaced gadda traders after the civic body came out with the scheme without taking the stakeholders into confidence. We have not opposed the scheme per se, but the gadda traders would like the civic body and the government to take the stakeholders into confidence before finalizing any permanent scheme”.
Naik added: “We also have reservations over the plan to bring all the 100-odd displaced gadda traders in one building. As you know, these traders are engaged in small businesses. Shifting them to a single building at the old market may not benefit them”
Instead, Naik has suggested that the displaced traders may be rehabilitated at the proposed satellite markets, and bus stands so that the traders are spread out across the city, facilitating them to eke out a living.
Council already in violation of court order: Ex-Chairperson
MARGAO: Former Margao Municipal Chairperson Savio Coutinho has said the placement or allotment of any gadda along the road/road widening area or footpath mandatorily requires the consent of the High Court in view of the court order of 1997.
"To be very specific to the area near Margao KTC Bus Stand, the council is already in violation of the court order and surely attracts contempt”, he said.
He added: “Many in the council may not be aware, while senior officials may conveniently feign ignorance to the fact that only 5-7 gaddas were issued permission through the High Court, for placement in front of the KTC bus stand canteen under the temporary rehabilitation scheme”.
Coutinho charged that gradually the number has increased to twice the number permitted near the KTC bus stand.
"It is only the powerful and influential gadda owners who get prime locations for placement of their gaddas, while others are still left without any place. Many of the gadda owners who were displaced due to the High Court order have even breathed their last in their wait for permanent rehabilitation", Coutinho lamented.
MMC Survey: 22 gaddas and all have permission
MARGAO: A survey conducted by the Margao Municipal Council on Monday in the wake of the controversy over an illegal gadda has revealed that a total of 22 gaddas are located near the KTC bus stand.
The survey carried out by the municipal inspectors further showed that all the 22 gadas have permissions from the civic body. While saying the gaddas have the permission from the civic body, an official said some of them might have been involved in minor encroachments.
Chairperson Lyndon Pereira informed that the municipal inspectors have found that all the 22 gaddas operating near the KTC bus stand have permissions. He, however, said he would find out from the Chief Officer if the 22 gaddas have come up at the site as part of the temporary rehabilitation approved by the High Court.
