TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

MARGAO:  Agitated Gandhi market vendors on Tuesday gheraoed Margao Municipal Chairperson Arthur D’Silva and Chief Officer J B Bhingui over the recent encroachment drive carried out in the market at the instance of Civic Vice-Chairperson Pratima Coutinho.

They served a 15-day deadline on the Municipal authorities to act against the encroachments in all the markets or face another gherao.

Led by former Minister, Babu Azgaonkar, the vendors warned that they will not remain silent and watch the Municipal rulers and authorities targeting Gandhi market while turning a blind eye to illegalities and encroachments in the other markets and along road sides. 

The vendors were looking out for the Municipal vice-Chairperson Pratima Coutinho, who is also the Chairperson of the Municipal market committee. However, after finding Pratima not in her chamber, they barged inside the Chief Officer’s chamber and confronted J B Bhingui over the recent encroachment drive.

Azgaonkar told the Chie Officer they are not opposed to removal of encroachments from the Gandhi market, but wanted the authorities to clear the encroachments in the New Market, SGPDA market, wholesale fish market, opposite the Communidade building and put a stop to Sunday’s Chor Bazar on the station road.

They later gheraoed Chairperson Arthur D’Silva and demanded Pratima’s presence in the Civic body to discuss the issue. The vendors warned that they will not spare anyone discriminating against the Gandhi market.

Meanwhile, MMC Chief Officer J B Bhingui said the Civic body would not show leniency to encroachments anywhere in the market. He, however, said the Civic body would consider the other demands raised by the vendors on a priority basis.