VASCO
With four migrant fish vendors and a four-year-old girl getting injured after a car rammed into them on Friday, shortly after The Goan had highlighted the danger of vendors selling fish along the Sancoale highway, the local panchayat is under pressure to justify its failure to take timely action in the matter.
Sancoale Sarpanch Girish Pillai had earlier told The Goan that the panchayat was aware of the sale of fish by roadside migrant vendors, as the issue had been raised at a recent Gram Sabha. Pillai had also said he would inspect the site and initiate action in the matter.
He said "If authorities concerned had to act immediately, this tragedy could well have been averted."
When Pillai was contacted on Saturday, he said the panchayat had taken steps to remove the fish vendors from the roadside.
"We had conducted an inspection immediately after The Goan report and told the migrants to clear the area with immediate effect. The migrants, however, sought some time to clear the shanties in the vicinity and we had also kept a watch on their activities," said Pillai.
"These migrants were not seen selling fish over the next two days. However on the day of the accident, they returned to the site, probably to make one last sale and this led to the tragic mishap."
"We conducted an inspection for a second time and we are now taking strict action as we do not want any further accidents along this
stretch of the road. We have also written to the PWD, since the space is also occupied by labourers of the PWD contractor involved in the road expansion works."
"In the meanwhile, the roadside fish vendors have sought a week's time to shift from the site, since their relatives are admitted in GMC. However, if they are found selling fish or do not vacate the area within a week, we will seek police assistance to clear the site," said Pillai.
With four migrant fish vendors and a four-year-old girl getting injured after a car rammed into them on Friday, shortly after The Goan had highlighted the danger of vendors selling fish along the Sancoale highway, the local panchayat is under pressure to justify its failure to take timely action in the matter.
Sancoale Sarpanch Girish Pillai had earlier told The Goan that the panchayat was aware of the sale of fish by roadside migrant vendors, as the issue had been raised at a recent Gram Sabha. Pillai had also said he would inspect the site and initiate action in the matter.
He said "If authorities concerned had to act immediately, this tragedy could well have been averted."
When Pillai was contacted on Saturday, he said the panchayat had taken steps to remove the fish vendors from the roadside.
"We had conducted an inspection immediately after The Goan report and told the migrants to clear the area with immediate effect. The migrants, however, sought some time to clear the shanties in the vicinity and we had also kept a watch on their activities," said Pillai.
"These migrants were not seen selling fish over the next two days. However on the day of the accident, they returned to the site, probably to make one last sale and this led to the tragic mishap."
"We conducted an inspection for a second time and we are now taking strict action as we do not want any further accidents along this
stretch of the road. We have also written to the PWD, since the space is also occupied by labourers of the PWD contractor involved in the road expansion works."
"In the meanwhile, the roadside fish vendors have sought a week's time to shift from the site, since their relatives are admitted in GMC. However, if they are found selling fish or do not vacate the area within a week, we will seek police assistance to clear the site," said Pillai.
