the goan I network
MAPUSA
Once again, the Mapusa civic body has been caught in the eye of a storm for targeting local vendors while conceding privileged treatment to migrants in the municipal market.
While launching a drive against vendors storing goods overnight in the market, it was found that Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) confiscated goods belonging to local vendors while those belonging to migrants have not been touched.
The goods of local vendors sitting with vegetable and traditional Moira bananas opposite Café Dakuli line, salt fish vendors, near Shakuntala statue and Mapusa Bazzar have been confiscated, but goods stored by migrants in the open space in front of the vegetable market, opposite Damu Naik and behind pottery bazzar have been left untouched.
The council had made its intention clear and had started the drive in the market in August, but suddenly kept it under suspension due to protests from local vendors and because of Chaturthi
festival.
The drive was re-started after Chaturthi on
September 30.
But many locals have complained that the council did not appear of doing a sincere job and were indulging in partiality.
“The MMC says it will not allow any vendors to keep their goods in the market overnight or else their goods will be confiscated. In reality, the truth is something else,” said Shekar Naik, a resident of Mapusa.
On Wednesday night, a group of ruling councilors went around the municipal market to verify the allegations and found that it was true.
“The decision of the council to remove goods stored overnight in the market is a good move. But it should be implemented uniformly. Law is equal to everyone. We cannot give preference to a section of the vendors and take action on others. This is totally unacceptable,” said Tushar Tople, a councilor.
Such is the hold of the migrant vendors in the market that a group of them sitting in the open space in front of the vegetable market has even hired a security guard to look after their goods stored overnight.
“Some vendors are still keeping their goods and have hired a watchman to guard their goods,” said Shekar Naik in his Facebook post.
Council has no favourites: Market committee chairman
