Photo caption.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and Margao New Market traders President Vinod Shirodkar seen discussing the long pending grievances of the traders. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar.
Traders threaten to physically
stop sales, expos in Margao
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Agitated Margao’s new market traders on Tuesday told Margao MLA Digambar Kamat that they will have no option but to hit the streets and stop the sales and exhibitions taking place in the commercial capital if the elected representatives and the authorities fail to do so.
The Margao MLA gave the traders, led by President Vinod Shirodkar, a patient hearing and invited them for the forthcoming meeting of the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) later this week.
The agitated traders called on the Margao MLA in his office to draw his attention to the fact that their business has been adversely affected with the rampant permissions given by the MMC and the SGPDA for the sales and exhibitions.
Vinod Shirodkar pointed out that though they have been running from pillar to post since the last half a decade with a plea to ban the sales in the city, the ground reality remains unchanged. “On one hand, the MMC is permitting mega sales in the city and turns a nelson’s eye to the rampant violation of parking norms by the buildings that have mushroom around the new market. We have demanded with the Margao MLA to work out a solution to our long-pending problem and ban the sales,” he said.
Traders warned that if the sales are not banned, they will no more call on MLAs or the local civic body or the planning body, but will take to the streets to physically stop the sales.
After the meeting, the Margao MLA told the media that he fully sympathizes with the grievances of the vendors, terming their demand to ban the sales as genuine. “They have demanded a total ban on sales in the city. But the PDA has tentatively agreed to permit only six sales in the year on the PDA grounds. Since the PDA is meeting later this week, I have invited the traders to attend the meeting and place their grievances with PDA members and officials as well,” Kamat said, adding, “I am open for discussions on the ban on sales in the city.”
