MARGAO
Margao municipal market traders on Friday had a simple question for Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes “ why has the government not put in place SOP to check visitors to the state if the government is so much concerned about controlling Covid cases?
The traders further questioned whether the Margao municipality or the government has any plan to compensate the traders, who had to suffer losses on account of last year’s lockdown and restrictions. President of New Market Traders Association, Vinod Shirodkar, pointed out to the Chief Officer that any Covid awareness or enforcement measure intended to be implemented in the city should not affect the traders again. “We have suffered enough last year, first because of the lockdown and thereafter restrictions. At the time of the restrictions, neither the MMC nor the government granted the traders any concessions, including exemption of payment of garbage fees and other taxes,” Vinod said.
He further said the authorities should not target the markets when the visitors to the state are permitted entry into the state unchecked. Pointing out that vehicles come into the city in the wee hours of the day to unload fruits and vegetables without any checks from the market, Vinod pleaded with the MMC not to unnecessarily target the market traders again.
