MARGAO
The Margao Municipal New Market Association has called for an emergency meeting of its members on Monday to chalk out the future course of action as traders see red in the government’s Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, on the question of lease of municipal property.
President of the New Market Traders Association Vinod Shirodkar, who along with the traders, attended a meeting called by the All Goa Merchant’s Association, said that the Ordinance threatens to displace traders, who have no sons and snatch their livelihood.
He said the traders under the banner of the New Market Traders Association will take a decision on the call given by the All Goa Merchant’s Association for a shutdown of shops on January 7 as a mark of protest against the Ordinance.
“Most of our traders have expressed their strong reservations to the Ordinance. We will officially deliberate on the Ordinance on Monday and chalk out the future course of action,” Shirodkar added.
The New Market and the adjoining Gandhi Market are the major municipal markets owned by the Margao Municipal Council in the commercial capital. In fact, the New Market is considered as the hub of commerce and traders in the city, as it plays host to around 400-odd shops and business establishments, including sopo.
Vinod Shirodkar told The Goan that the Ordinance seeks to snatch away the livelihood of the trades, who have only daughters, as the legislation seeks to ban the transfer of the premises to daughters. “This is totally unacceptable. Many traders have only daughters, what are they supposed to do to earn their livelihood in their old age if the premises cannot be transferred to their daughters,” he questioned.
He also raised his strong reservation on the provisions for lease only for a fixed period, saying that re-auctioning of the premises will go against the interest of the traders.
“We are surprised that the government has brought an Ordinance instead of bringing the matter for discussions in the Assembly after taking the stakeholders into confidence,” Shirodkar said, adding that the Monday meeting of the Association will discuss the future course of action on the government’s Ordinance.
