MARGAO
The SGPDA mega retail markets selling fish, vegetables, fruits, flowers, besides meat shops, will all remain shut for two days during the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) hearing on the PDA parking lot, beginning from July 8 as the authorities anticipate a large number of participants to attend the July 8 public hearing and there’s every possibility of law and order situation.
South district Magistrate, Ruchika Katyal, IAS on Tuesday invoked section 144 of the Cr PC to issue an order for the closure of the market on Thursday and Friday as a large number of participants are expected to attend the public hearing and there is every possibility of law and order situation.
“In my considered opinion, there are sufficient grounds for proceeding under subsection (1) of section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 to lake preventive steps to maintain law and order and security arrangement,” the District Magistrate stated in the order.
Copies of the order have been dispatched to the SGPDA Member Secretary Ranjit Borkar who is now expected to notify the vendors and stall owners about the closure of the markets on Thursday and Friday.
Meanwhile, with just two days left for the July 8 hearing, South Goa district police chief, SP Pankaj Kumar Singh, IPS along with DySP Harish Madkaikar and PI Kapil Nayak descended on the SGDPA market complex to review the situation.
The police have already finalized a security scheme wherein around 600-800 personnel have been mobilized, including three platoons of IRB, two males and a female, to maintain law and order during the hearing. The policemen will be working in shifts in and around the venue of the public hearing.
