MAPUSA MARKET CHAOS
Councillors allege migrant
vendors resorting to dadgiri
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
Questioning the locus standi of the Mapusa Municipal Council, the city fathers wondered whether the civic body has lost control over the affairs of the Mapusa market.
Leading the charge against the maladministration in the market, the ruling group councillors pointed out to several problem areas like highhandedness suffered by local vendors at the hands of migrants, encroachment by vendors and shopkeepers and unauthorized parking.
“A space occupied by a local vendor opposite Sai Sadan Hotel in the market has been taken over by a migrant vendor, who now refuses to move out from the place claiming to have purchased it,” charged Tushar Tople, a councillor in the ruling group.
“There are several such complaints where local vendors are harassed by migrants. Does this council have any control in the market? Or have the migrants taken over?” Tople questioned Chairperson Sandeep Falari at the council meeting on Friday.
He said the fact that non-Goan vendors have the audacity to challenge the locals clearly indicates that they have backing from certain quarters.
Caught off-guard, the chairperson tried to talk the councillor away from the topic saying that such complaints have to be put forward before competent authorities in the municipal council.
“Only if the complaint is not redressed appropriately, then the councillor can bring the issue before the council meeting,” said Sandip Falari.
But to the chairperson’s surprise, another councillor intervened and brought to Falari’s notice that he had put in a written complaint against a handcart operating his business illegally but has not received any response for the last two weeks.
“Despite writing against operation of an illegal handcart in my ward, no action has been taken,” councillor, Shekar Benkar said.
Councillor Martin Carrasco informed that he too had written about an illegal handcart that was being operated in his ward but saw no action coming from the civic officials.
Supporting his colleagues, councillor Sanjay Mishal suggested installation of CCTV cameras in around the fish and vegetable market and at some other key areas.
“Both the vendors and the shopkeepers have carried out encroachments in Mapusa market. Secondly, shopkeepers and the public resort to haphazard parking in the market area. We need to take strong action against illegalities to pass a clear message,” Mishal said.
Caught on the back foot, the chairperson assured the aggrieved councillors to look into the matter and take appropriate action.
