MAPUSA
In a decisive move, the Mapusa Municipal Council has sealed 16 illegal shops and stalls operating in Goteshwarnagar-Khorlim, following an order from Mapusa Chief Officer Chandrakant Shetkar.
The shops were found to be operating without any valid licenses or permissions, leading to their closure. The crackdown comes amid growing concerns about the proliferation of unlicensed businesses in the area.
Despite this recent action, several other illegal shops and stalls continue to operate in areas like Karrasvaddo and along the road leading to St Xavier’s College.
Many of these have been functioning without permissions for over a decade, yet no action has been taken against them. Notably, in Karrasvaddo, several shops allegedly owned by a local councillor have been operating without licences, but these remain untouched by the municipal authorities.
This selective enforcement has raised questions among residents and councillors alike. Councillor Shashank Narvekar has called for a more consistent approach, urging the civic body to either regularise these illegal shops or demolish them entirely.
"There are more than 25 such shops in the jurisdiction of Mapusa," Narvekar stated. "The civic body or the government should either grant them licences or demolish them. Why are they kept guessing? If they are given licences, the municipal council will also benefit from the revenue."
Narvekar’s comments reflect a growing frustration with the lack of clarity and decisive action regarding unlicensed shops, many of which have been thriving in the municipality for years.
The councillor stressed the need for the government to address the issue, either by bringing these businesses into the legal framework or taking steps to remove them altogether.
Sources within the municipal council have confirmed that further action will be taken against other illegal establishments in Mapusa.
The sealing of the 16 shops in Goteshwarnagar may mark the beginning of a broader crackdown on unauthorised businesses across the city.
This move by the Mapusa Municipal Council has sparked discussions about the enforcement of regulations and the need for transparency and fairness in dealing with illegal businesses.
Local residents and legal shop owners hope the council’s actions will lead to a more orderly and regulated business environment in the town.
