VASCO
In a stern warning, Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Deepak Naik has threatened to seize the material of vendors who encroach on the roads in the market area.
Naik along with the councillors, during their inspection of the newly-asphalted road of the vegetable market, noticed encroachments on the road by vegetable and fruit vendors.
Councillor Fredrick Henriques, who was present for the inspection, advised Naik to seize the vegetable and other items that were on sale on the road.
“Until and unless the council does not crack a whip on these vegetable and fruit vendors who encroach on the road, they will take things lightly,” justified Henriques.
“We should direct the market inspectors to seize the material if the vendors encroach on the road and impose a heavy fine on them,” Henriques emphasised.
While complementing the council for asphalting the road, some residents informed Naik at the site that encroachment by vendors had made it difficult to walk through the vegetable market.
They further informed Naik that women had to face a major hurdle while walking along the road during their visit to the vegetable market. They also alleged that some municipal officials had colluded with the vegetable vendors and had allowed them to encroach on the road for their personal gain.
A visibly upset Naik warned the vendors that the council would seize the material encroaching on the road, if he were to receive complaints from the public.
“First of all, you people are defaulters, and despite that, the council has improved the condition of the road by asphalting it. You already have stalls, and in spite of several warnings you are still selling vegetables by encroaching on the road,” Naik bluntly told the vegetable vendors.
Naik then directed the market inspectors to visit the vegetable every morning and seize the material that is found encroaching on the road.
“I give you the full freedom to do so, and no councillor will interfere in your work. You must not spare a single vegetable vendor encroaching on the road, even if he is your friend,” Naik told the market inspectors.
“Even after seizing the material, if vegetable vendors commit the same mistake, the council will impose a heavy fine on the vendors,” added Naik.
