MARGAO
Niz Goemkar vendors have begun to feel the heat with vegetables, including marigold hitting the local markets from neighbouring states.
On Monday, agitated Goan vendors marched to the Margao Municipal building demanding whip be cracked on vendors from neighbouring states while threatening to take the law in their own hands.
The agitation against presence of outside vendors started on the eve of Dusshera when hordes of them descended on the commercial capital with marigold flowers. Locals complained that they suffered losses after outside vendors dumped their produce in the market at cheap rates.
They claimed the Margao municipal inspector did not act on their demand to initiate action against outsider vendors. He watched the situation as a mute spectator, they added.
Led by Crydon Madeira, the Goan vendors called on the Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes with a demand to immediately put a stop to illegal vendors from outside the state.
He also charged that the municipal officials are hand in gloves with the outside vendors, and money playing a vital part.
Damean, a farmer, said the local vendors would drive them out of the markets if the MMC is not ready to initiate action.
Another vendor pointed out that they have been toiling hard in their fields to produce vegetable, flowers and fruits for selling them in the market.
MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes has said that he would examine the issue before taking action. While assuring the vendors that instructions will go to the officials to reign in on the illegal vendors.
