the goan I network
MARGAO
That’s not all. Illegal gaddas are believed to have resurfaced at many places reportedly with political patronage, raising questions on the anti-encroachment drive carried out by the civic body.
Contrary to the discussions at the media briefing, wherein the Civic body had favoured auctioning of the goods seized during anti-encroachment drive and dismantle the illegal gaddas instead of returning back to the owners, the Civic body has now decided to act otherwise.
When The Goan called up MMC Chief Officer Y B Tawde to shed light on reports that the Civic body has resolved to return back the confiscated gaddas and goods to the vendors, he replied in the positive, but hastened to add that his office is only acting at the instructions of the elected body. “I have been told by the Chairperson Babita Angle that the goods can be returned back to the vendors after payment of a fine. Accordingly, my office and officers are working on a fine structure before releasing the gaddas and goods”, Tawde said.
When The Goan contacted, MMC Chairperson Babita Angle to throw light on the development, she said the Municipality had never formally taken any decision to dismantle any gadda or auction goods seized during the encroachment drive. “We had never formally resolved to dismantle the illegal gaddas or auction the goods seized during the anti-encroachment drive. We have decided to return back the goods since there’s no place to store them in the Civic body”, Babita said.
She, however, said that the Municipality will levy a fine of Rs 4000 on any illegal gaddas operating in the city in the future, while disclosing plans to set up hawking zones in the city to take care of the vendors ad hawkers. “The anti-encroachment drive had cost the Civic body heavily since we had to pay overtime to the workers. We are now working out a mechanism wherein the drive continues minus overtime for the workers”, she siad.
She answered in the positive when her attention was drawn to reports that illegal gaddas have surfaced at some places, but hastened to add that she has got some of the illegal gaddas removed with the help of the Municipal staff. “If the Councilors and members of the public are vigilant, I think it will make the job of the Civic body easy to rid the city of the illegal gaddas”, Babita added.
