Margao MLA allegedly survives in politics with backing and support of these vendors
MARGAO
Margao Municipal Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar has a challenge of sorts at hand – Can the Chief Officer remove the illegal kiosks located near the Comba railway crossing when Congress-turned-Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has been on record saying that he has survived in politics with the backing and support of the vendors?
This question further assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the PWD engineers, roads division had beat a hasty retreat after issuing notices to couple of kiosks dotting near the railway crossing since they fall in the road widening area.
The latest action initiated by the MMC Chief Officer has become a talking point in the corridors of the civic body after Sankhwalkar issued notice to a vendor directing to show cause within seven days why the structure selling tender coconuts should not be removed from the spot.
The Chief Officer had issued the show cause based on a number of complaints regarding encroachment on PWD road near the railway crossing. Inspection of the kiosk by the MMC officials has revealed that the business of selling tender coconut on wooden plank was carried out near the railway gate.
In fact, the inspection report had revealed that the structure is located close to the road and as a result of which it is causing lot of traffic congestion and inconvenience to pedestrians.
“Your business activity is causing nuisance on the site and also causing tremendous traffic problems and can also cause accidents due to haphazard parking. On going through the office records, it is seen that you have carried out the works illegally without obtaining trade licence and any other permission from this council,” Sankhwalkar stated, while giving seven days to the vendor to show cause why the illegal structure should not be removed from the site at his cost and risk or failing which this council will initiate necessary action without further intimation.
The Margao MLA had told the media last year when his attention was drawn to the presence of kiosks near the railway crossing causing traffic obstruction, that he has survived in politics due to the support extended by the vendors.
