MAPUSA
With complaints of overcharging and arrogant behaviour of staff mounting against the pay parking contractor in the municipal market, the Mapusa Municipal Council has decided to terminate the pay parking contract and streamline the entire pay parking in the market area.
The civic body has also decided to act tough and take action against all unauthorised encroachments carried out by the shopkeepers and vendors in the market.
Mapusa Municipal Chief Officer Amitesh Shirvoikar informed that there were several complaints against the pay parking contractor and therefore, proper steps have been initiated to terminate the contract mid-way.
“A hearing has been fixed with the pay parking contractor. We will terminate his contract and appoint a new person in his place,” Shirvoikar said.
The Chief Officer was addressing the members of the Mapusa Merchants Association (MMA) who were invited to discuss issues faced by merchants in the municipal market.
The MMA president Shripad Sawant along with his members informed that the pay parking contractor was charging Rs 10 instead of the actual rate of Rs 5 for parking a two-wheeler in the market. They also said that the pay parking staff were abusive and insulted the public who visited the market.
The MMA requested the civic body to set up parking rate boards at prominent places and fix proper parking slots in the market to avoid undisciplined parking of vehicles.
The chief officer informed the delegation that henceforward a proper study will be made to find out the carrying capacity of two-wheelers and four-wheelers in the market and accordingly come up with a tender to appoint the pay parking contractor.
“We will come up with a pay parking tender that is practical so that no injustice is done to the contractor, and the public gets proper service,” Shirvoikar said.
The chief officer also informed that the council has decided to act against all unauthorised encroachments carried out on footpaths.
The MMA members said there was an unwritten understanding that shopkeepers may be allowed to carry out an extension of 60 cm extra outside the shops.
“Action should be taken against anyone and everyone who extend beyond the 60 cm. Also, don’t discriminate between the shopkeepers and the vendors,” said Siddesh Raut, Secretary of MMA.
The MMA members have agreed to give full cooperation to the council over garbage management in the market.
The chief officer also informed of plans to place garbage bins at prominent locations in the market so that the public could also get access to these bins and ensure that there was no littering.
MMC Chairperson Shubanghi Vaigankar, Vice Chairperson Chandrashekar Benkar, municipal market chairperson, Viraj Phadke and councillors Sainath Raul, Axirwad Shirodkar and others were also present.
Civic body to take up repair of 12 toilets
MAPUSA:
Acknowledging the need for a proper toilet facility in the market, Mapusa Municipal Chief Officer Amitesh Shirvoikar on Monday informed that the civic body will soon take up the repair of 12 public toilets in Mapusa.
“We have identified 12 toilets which will be taken up for repairs on an urgent basis. At least two of these toilets are in the market area. The council is seized of the problem and will do everything in the interest of the people of Mapusa and the public who visit the town,” Shirvoikar said.
The Mapusa Merchants Association (MMA) had time and again brought to the notice of the municipality about maintaining various toilets in the market especially as thousands of people visit the market on Fridays.
“We are sick and tired of raising the basic issue of non-functional toilets in the market in every meeting and its highly disgraceful on your part to fail to provide a rudimentary facility like a toilet to the public,” said Shripad Sawant, president of MMA, in a note to the chief officer.
