the goan I network
MARGAO
Juicy mesh melons and vegetables grown in the hilly areas of South Goa have started flooding the commercial capital, but sadly the vendors bringing these seasonal produce have no earmarked place to sell the fruits of their labour.
The vendors from the hilly areas of Quepem and Canacona continue to face space problem, with the government defaulting in earmarking a makeshift market for them and neither has the Margao Municipal Council notified hawking zones in the commercial capital till date.
While the drain alongside the road opposite the South Goa district police headquarters has come in handy for the vendors to sell their local produce, these vendors have also made their presence felt at
the old Margao bus stand and along the roadsides and junctions in the city for want of dedicated space.
In fact, it’s now close to a decade and half since the BJP regime around 2002-03 had promised the seasonal vendors to make available a dedicated, but makeshift space in the commercial capital to sell their produce during the season, but in vain.
Margao Municipal Council’s move to notify the hawking zones in the city for different types of vendors, including the seasonal ones, have not seen light of the day till date.
A seasonal vendor told The Goan that they take the trouble to come to Margao with their produce since the mesh melons and other seasonal local variety of vegetables, including cucumber, are in high demand. She, however, said that they have no other option but to occupy every inch of space on the roadside for want of dedicated space.
Sources said that huge demand for the mesh melons in the city has prompted many a farmer from the hinterland areas of Morpilla, Barcem and Paddi in Quepem to go cultivate these. “We have no other option but to sell our produce on the roadside. Sometimes, the MMC inspectors and the police try to clear us from our place of business, but we plead with them to spare us since there’s no other dedicated space allotted to sell the seasonal produce,” said a lady vendor, who has been coming to the city over the years.
