Panaji: Ahead of the festive week, the vendors at the Ponda Municipal Market held a protest against the encroachment of footpaths by non-Goan sellers, claiming losses in business.
They allege that these outside vendors, who set up stalls primarily on peak business days, divert customers away from the designated market space meant for local vendors. They urged the Municipal council to immediately clear all the encroachments, failing which they have warned to intensify the protest.
Maya Naik, a local vendor, expressed frustration over the situation: "These vendors, who are not locals, come during festival season, sell their items at cheap prices, thus attracting customers while we face losses. We sit in the market year-round, but we are not given preference."
Another local vendor stated, "The Chief Officer and Councilor blame each other whenever we approach them for help. If they don't clear the footpaths today, they should at least provide us with places to set up stalls."
With only four days remaining until Diwali, the local vendors are worried about their dwindling sales. "What happens to our business? We get no sales, and our goods spoil. We have to throw away most of our stock," they lamented.
The local vendors also highlighted that it has been over a decade since the old market was demolished, and they have yet to be allocated proper space. "Now they say they will shift us to the airport road, but we don’t want to go there. We make the same demands every year, but nothing changes," they stated.
