The Sunday market in Vasco.
VASCO
The Sunday market in Vasco is slowly finding its feet again ahead of Diwali, but the return of business has come with a stark contrast for traders operating within the same market complex.
While shops that escaped the devastating fire have reopened, restocked their shelves and begun attending to customers, vendors operating from the ground floor of the fire-hit New Modern Municipal Market building have been served a 24-hour evacuation notice, leaving them staring at another spell of uncertainty.
The contrasting scenes unfolding at the market present two very different realities of the same tragedy.
For some traders, the approach of Diwali has brought an opportunity to restart business and recover lost sales. For others, the festival season has arrived amid anxiety over losing access to their establishments, with their immediate priority shifting from selling goods to securing their remaining belongings and seeking adequate compensation.
Several shops that remained unaffected by the fire have reopened ahead of the festive season, with electricity supply restored to the establishments. Traders have begun displaying fresh stocks of clothes, footwear and other Diwali essentials, hoping to make the most of the traditionally busy shopping period.
New merchandise is once again finding its way onto shop shelves, while traders are attempting to bring back some of the usual festive activity that once characterised the market in the days leading up to Diwali.
Though business is yet to regain its previous momentum, the gradual increase in customer movement has provided some encouragement to traders who managed to escape the direct impact of the blaze.
For these shopkeepers, reopening, restoring electricity and putting fresh stocks on display have been important first steps towards normalcy. With Diwali approaching, every trading day matters, particularly after the disruption caused by the fire.
However, the return of commercial activity has not translated into relief for everyone.
The shops situated on the ground floor of the fire-affected building have been served eviction notices by Mormugao Municipal Council Chief Officer Siddhivinayak S Naik, directing the occupants to vacate their establishments within 24 hours.
The November 3 notice was issued following directions from the South Goa Collector in view of an adverse structural stability report concerning the fire-damaged building. The Council has also been directed to cordon off the premises and prevent entry, while the Electricity and Drinking Water departments have been instructed to disconnect the respective connections.
The affected vendors have strongly objected to the short notice period, questioning how they could be expected to vacate their establishments at such short notice after already suffering substantial losses in the fire.
