MAPUSA
The Mapusa civic body was forced to reverse its decision to block the entry to the municipal market after some traders opposed the plan stating that the move will keep consumers away from entering the market thereby impacting their business.
The civic authorities, however, maintained that the decision has been temporarily kept on hold and they would study the matter in detail and come with a fresh plan by taking the business community into confidence.
The situation turned tense in Mapusa market on Tuesday morning after the pay parking contractor blocked both the entries to the municipal market ostensibly to prevent four-wheelers from making its way into the market.
The traders under the banner of Mapusa Merchants’ Association (MMA) assembled at the site and vociferously objected to the plan of erecting barricades and blocking entry of vehicles in the market.
“We faced problems during the height of the Covid pandemic when entry to the markets was blocked in a similar way which dissuaded consumers from coming into the market and gave birth to mini markets in the outskirts of the city,” said Ashish Shirodkar, former President of MMA.
He said if the municipality has a plan to streamline the parking in the market and have certain plans then they should take the traders into confidence.
“The civic administration should understand our problem. The chief officer should explain his plan to us and only then implement his decision,” he said.
According to market committee chairman Viraj Phadke, the pay parking contractor was accepting a fee of Rs 5 for every vehicle entering the market by blocking the entry points.
“The tender for pay parking has been issued for parking of vehicles, not for entry of vehicles. Many times people are dropped in the market by their relatives. So one cannot charge fees from such people,” Phadke said.
Chief Officer, Sitaram Sawal informed that the decision was taken in order to bring discipline and to avoid entry of four-wheelers inside the market.
“The barricades were erected at both the entrance of the municipal market after a discussion with the pay parking contractor. The intention was to avoid four-wheelers from entering the market,” Sawal said.
“At the moment we have put the decision on hold after the merchants raised some issues over the plan. We will discuss the matter with the merchants in detail and re-introduce the plan,” he added.
