Hawkers continued business at the Old Market fair even after the official conclusion of the Purumentachem Fest on Sunday.
MARGAO
The eight-day Purumentachem Fest officially ended at the Old Market, Margao, on Sunday, but it was business as usual at the fair, with hawkers doing roaring business right under the nose of the Margao Municipal Chief Officer and officials.
That’s not all. While the MMC officials were nowhere around to crack the whip against the hawkers for conducting business beyond the eight-day period, allegations are being made that unscrupulous persons were on the job collecting fees from the hawkers.
Residents of Madel also complained about the continuation of the fair, resulting in the blockage of the road leading to the locality. In fact, resident Milagres Fernandes called up the police to lodge a complaint that haphazard parking of two-wheelers had blocked the road leading to Madel, causing inconvenience to the local populace.
“The Margao Municipal Council issues permission for the Purumentachem Fest for an eight-day period. The fair ended on Sunday, but the council is yet to direct the hawkers to dismantle the stalls and stop business,” he said.
Fernandes said the continuation of the fair beyond the eight-day period is not only a clear violation of the High Court directions but also amounts to contempt of court.
In the past, MMC officials used to levy fees on hawkers for the extra days of doing business at the Old Market feast fair. Fernandes, however, pointed out that civic officials were conspicuous by their absence at the fair to collect revenue. “I suspect some persons have gone around and collected thousands of rupees from the hawkers,” he alleged.
