Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
In the 1997 directions, the High Court had issued a further direction to the Municipal Chief Officers not to issue any new license for putting up any construction like kiosks on the streets including footpaths or reserving a specific area for hawking to a specific individual.
Against this backdrop, Margao Municipal Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar needs to answer whether the fast food kiosks stationed opposite the KTC bus stand and the Margao old bus stand conform to the license conditions of the Civic body.
For, owners of these fast food kiosks, which are mandated to tow away the carts after business hours as per the license conditions to, all stay put at the two open properties owned by the Margao Municipal Council.
Against the backdrop of the South Goa Collector’s directions to act against illegal roadside fast food stalls and eateries in Fatorda area, questions are raised whether the Chief Officer will crack a whip against the fast food carts in Fatorda violating the High court directions and turn a blind eye to similar violations in the Margao area of the Municipal Council.
That’s not all. The Chief Officer will have to answer and explain what had prevented his office and staff from initiating action against the fast food carts parked opposite the KTC bus stand and the old Bus stand in violation of the license conditions.