MARGAO
A day after the spate of thefts in the market on Sunday, the Margao Municipal New Market Trader’s Association on Monday called upon the Margao municipality to take prompt action to enhance the security infrastructure in the market.
The delegation, led by association president Gopal Naik, submitted a memorandum to Margao civic chief Damu Shirodkar, drawing his attention to the theft incident that occurred in the New Market in the wee hours of Sunday.
“This unfortunate incident has raised serious concerns among shop owners and the local community regarding the adequacy of security arrangements in the market,” he said. He added: “The New Market hosts 550 shops and has eight entry gates. However, only two security guards are usually deployed by the council during the night to safeguard the premises. Last night, it was noted that one of them was absent, leaving only one guard on duty and rendering the market vulnerable. This is clearly insufficient to ensure the safety and security of such a large market area.”
The delegation pointed out that some shopkeepers keep their establishments open late into the night for maintenance or restocking. “Consequently, the gates of the market remain open past midnight, creating significant security concerns. To mitigate this risk, it is imperative that all eight entry gates are locked by 10.30 pm, and shopkeepers are strictly prohibited from operating beyond this stipulated time,” he added.
The memorandum called for strengthening the security arrangements by deploying a minimum of four security guards during the night. “This measure will not only help prevent such incidents in the future but will also restore confidence in the shop owners and customers who frequent the market,” Gopal added.
After giving the delegation a patient hearing, Margao municipal chairperson Shirodkar said he would discuss the situation with Chief Officer Melvyn Vaz before taking measures to strengthen security at the Municipal New Market.
