Baker Miguel doing his business in a an adjoining lane near the old fish market. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Bakers selling the humble pao and poie became the first victims of the overflowing sewage from the sewage manholes in the commercial capital.
In fact, local bakers were conspicuous by their absence at their pao selling joint behind the Margao Municipal building on Tuesday evening. For, since the sewage manhole behind the MMC building has not stopped spewing sewage since the three days, the civic authorities swung into action to clear the bakers from the place from the point of hygiene.
After the MMC sanitary inspectors told the bakers to stop selling the pao from their normal place of business activity, the bakers were seen doing in different parts of the city, near the Old bus stand, on the road side near the Old Collectorate building.
Some of the bakes pointed out that their business has suffered on Tuesday since they used to get fixed business at the normal place behind the MMC building.
“The sewage manhole has been overflowing behind the MMC building for the last 3-4 days. If the MMC had to just tell us in advance, that we will not be allowed to sell the pao at the normal place, we would not have produced the items in bulk. We will surely suffer loss today for want of business”, remarked a baker.
Majorda-based Baker, Minguel, who has a fixed clientele for the poie, shifted his operations just in the adjoining road near the old fish market.
Margao Municipal Councillor Mahesh Amonkar said the MMC initiated the action of shifting the bakers from the normal place of business because of the sewage stink.
“I have found out that every time, a vehicle passed on the road, the waste was splashed around the area. It was unhygienic to see the pao in such an environment just 5-10 metres away from the manhole’, he said, while thanking the Chief Officer Gaurish Sankwalkar and his staff for the decision.
