VASCO
Several traditional vendors selling fruit, vegetable, coconut oil and other items have demanded that they be shifted into the newly renovated Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) market complex before Diwali.
The traditional vendors have also requested the MMC to stop all the other vendors scattered across roadsides and put all under one roof in the ready market complex that has been locked for the last year.
Vendors said that they had been occupying the market complex that was in a dilapidated situation for many years, but were requested by the Mormugao Council to move out while taking the complex for renovation. However, since the project was completed, the gates have been locked and the keys are with Mormugao Council forcing all these vendors to operate from different locations along the streets in Vasco.
City ward councillor Shami Salkar said that the entire market that was in a dilapidated condition was taken for renovation during the previous council by her husband Krishna Daji Salkar after the former chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar got the project approved under the 14th Finance Commission.
"The place had become like a dilapidated godown with no ventilation and electrical connection, but later at the request of vendors, the MMC under the 14th Finance Commission took up renovation at the cost of Rs 20 lakh with new tiles, platforms, ventilation and electrical fittings, but the market has been locked since almost a year for reasons unknown," said Salkar.
Salkar said that the traditional vendors face inconvenience in selling their produce on roadsides during monsoons and also face financial issues with the low business.
"I will take up the issue again and I have in the past requested the shifting of the vendors to their original place in the market for all the council meetings, and I appeal to the MMC to shift the vendors in this market," said Salkar.
When contacted, MMC Chairperson Damodar Kaskar said that the vendors will soon be shifted to the new market complex.
"The newly renovated market is ready with electrical wiring but the electrical appliances have to be fitted. There are some drainage related works required and all these works are under process, and once this is completed, we will shift the vendors to this newly renovated market complex," said Kaskar.
