VASCO
Barely two days after 25 fruit, vegetable, fish and meat vendors were shifted to the new Cortalim market complex, a legal and political battle got underway with opposition members of Cortalim panchayat obtaining a court stay in the matter.
While the opposition panel led by former deputy sarpanch Raymond De Sa said they have no objection over shifting of vendors to the market, they have insisted that proper procedures must be adopted and as per the market policy, which had not been prepared as yet.
Addressing a news conference, the opposition panel on Saturday said Sanad procedures had not been completed and hence, the market did not have an occupancy certificate.
“Rents were not fixed and Sopo rates were not decided while existing vendors were shifted to the new market complex. Cortalim Sarpanch Senia Pereira is misguiding people that the opposition panel is against the shifting of vendors,” said De Sa.
“We have no issues with the shifting of vendors, but we want it to be as per procedures. While we wanted to shift the vendors, we were informed that fruit, fish and vegetable vendors could be shifted, but meat vendors could not be allotted shops. Since the last one year, the policy is not formed and yet, the vendors have been shifted.”
“As per policy, shops are to be given to highest bidder through auction. Has the rent for the shops fixed and what is the rate of the Sopo and who has fixed the rates? What were to happen if a shop is now allotted at a particular price and when the policy is formed and someone bids a high price in the auction for this same shop? The market cannot be opened without a market governing policy.”
De Sa alleged that vendors were shifted on September 16 while a case was going on in court.
“How can vendors be shifted when the decision was not placed before a body meeting nor was a resolution taken? I want to know how much revenue has been generated to the Panchayat from allotting shops and shifting vendors?”
“This market is not a personal asset and cannot be run by rules as decided by the sarpanch or the MLA and hence, we obtained a court stay in the matter,” said De Sa.
