Time and again municipal authorities have been found wantingin taking action against illegal gaddas (handcarts) in Margao. The illegalgaddas have been a menace in Margao blocking pedestrian sidewalks and many atimes encroach on roads and communidade land.
Action, if any, against these gaddas comes in fits andstarts, giving an impression that these gaddas keep on surviving with theblessing of political class and some help of officials.
“We have our omlette gadda for over 25 years. One day themarket inspector, through his municipality labourers, comes and demands abribe. The next day the police who have nothing to do with us demand hafta.After that health officials pressurise us for money,” says a candid PurshottamNaik. Many believe that market inspectors are hand in glove with the illegalgadda owners. “There is a nexus between illegal gaddas, the market inspectors,who allow them to function, as we councilors have no powers to take actionagainst them. We are at the mercy of these corrupt market inspectors,” saidMargao Municipality, Chairperson, Arthur D’Silva.
There are 151 legal gaddas in the commercial town that havebeen earmarked for spots after the High Court order of 1997. They have to carryout their business within those limits.
“There is clear nexus between the market inspectors and theillegal gaddas. When I carried a drive and seized 15 gaddas last week, themarket inspector refused to go on rounds with me citing stupid excuses andlater applying for leave,” Market Committee, Chairperson and MMC, DeputyChairperson, Pratima Coutinho said.
Most omelet, chicken and bhaji selling gaddas emerge after 7pm, which is way beyond the municipal working hours. These gaddas come up inparking lots, communidade property and along the roads. Margao municipality,market inspector, Anil Shirodkar elaborates on the problem, “If we keep seizingthese gaddas, we face a problem of storing them. We have no place to storethese gaddas, since the MMC has stopped its old practice of dumping seizedgoods in the garden. So we seize in small quantities, inflict a fine and thenrepeat the process.
