Photo caption.
The new market traders during discussion with MMC Chief Officer on their long pending demands. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Margao New Market Traders Association on Monday raised the issue over the long delay in constructing a dedicated overhead water tank at the Gandhi market to effectively fight fires in both the new market and the Gandhi market.
A delegation of the Association led by President Vinod Shirodkar called on the Chief Officer Siddivinayak Naik and demanded immediate redressal of their long pending issues, including construction of the overhead water tank, a toilet for the traders and ban on sales and exhibitions in the city.
Shirodkar drew attention of the Chief Officer to the fact the three issues along with other burning problems facing the new market have not been addressed over the years. He pointed out that while the traders are willing to pay an increase in rent, the municipality has not taken the decision to its logical conclusion till date.
After the meeting, Shirodkar told the media that the new market traders are planning to call for a massive meeting in the city in the immediate future with successive municipal councils only paying service to their genuine problems. “The dedicated overhead tank has been pending since the last five years with the municipality. When the new market is prone to fires, it is surprising that successive councils have failed to act with haste to get the overhead tank constructed," he said.
The Chief Officer gave a patient hearing to the delegation and explained that the construction of the overhead tank has been delayed for the reason that the PWD has now changed the tank design given the paucity of space at the Gandhi market.
Naik further told the delegation to nominate two persons from the market panel to work out solutions to the perennial problems plaguing the city municipal markets.
