Mapusa market vendors get relief until Diwali
the goan network
MAPUSA
Taking a humanitarian view on the demands of the street vendors in Mapusa market, Deputy Chief Minister and Mapusa MLA, Francis D’Souza on Saturday allowed them to retain their stock inside the market until Diwali.
Around 100 vegetable and fruit vendors gathered at the residence of the minister and requested him to relax the ongoing anti-encroachment drive and allow them to retain their baggage and the extra stock in the market until the Diwali festival.
“Since we bring extra stock during the festival, we find it difficult to transport the stock back and forth every day. Allow us to retain our stock in the market at least until Diwali,” the vendors appealed.
After listening to their grievances D'Souza allowed them to keep their stock in the market until Diwali.
“After Diwali the municipality will shift the vegetable and fruit vendors inside the new vegetable market. I am sure you will not have any problem then,” he said to the vendors.
However, Mapusa Chief Officer, Raju Gawas said that the drive to clear encroachments in the market will continue with certain relaxation on account of the festival.
“The drive to clear encroachments will go on. We need to bring some discipline in the market,” Gawas said. “We may consider certain relaxations because of the festival,” he added.
It may be recalled Chief Minister, Laxmikant Parsekar had recently told the Mapusa Chief Officer to take proactive action to clear the Mapusa market of all encroachments. He had even told the chief officer that he would visit the market before Diwali.
The chief minister had visited the market soon after a restaurant went up in flames in the market.
MMC Chairperson Sandeep Falari and former chairperson and senior councillor Sudhir Kandolkar was present during the discussion.
