MARGAO
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has publicly batted for the kiosks ('gaddas') dotting around near traffic bottlenecks, pointing out that he has survived in politics because of support from these people.
As the Margao MLA broke the sacred coconut to beautify the area near the Comba level crossing and to make space for vehicular parking along the space running parallel to the tracks, a scribe drew his attention to the 3-4 gaddas located right adjoining the crossing, causing traffic congestion.
Kamat, however, point blank told the scribe that he not against the livelihood of the people, going to the extent of saying he has survived in politics because of support from these people.
“Let them eke a living. They have been existing here and doing business here for a long time. You cannot tell them to move out or throw them on the streets”, Kamat said, as he received a round of applause from the people around.
The Margao MLA further said the question of removing of gaddas will come only after they are all rehabilitated in the vending zones in the city.
“We have planned around 2-3 vending zones in the city, wherein all the legal gaddas will be relocated and rehabilitated. Till such time, let them eke a living”, he said.
Saying a vending zone is taking shape near the fire station, Kamat said all the gaddas lining up on the station road will be shifted to the zone.
He added: “There are a number of gaddas located near the Power house junction. You cannot tell them to suddenly move out. We have to find out a solution.
Kamat’s statement assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the PWD has a couple of months ago pasted notices on the gaddas for their removal, pointing out that are all located in road widening area.
Around 3-4 gaddas are located right adjoining the Comba railway crossing, including a vegetable horticulture staff, a fruit stall, a milk booth converted into a juice stall and a gadda which has been newly installed at the site.
Motorists as well as parents dropping their wards to the adjoining schools had been complaining of traffic congestion near the railway crossing since people park their vehicles near the gaddas to make vegetable and other purchases.
