MAPUSA: With an aim to increase safety and security measures ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi, Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) held a joint review meeting with all the stakeholders of the town.
Methods to decongest the market and regulate free flow of traffic during the festive period were proposed.
The meeting was presided by the Chairperson of MMC, Ryan Braganza wherein issues such as NOCs to firework stalls, management of traffic flow, parking facility and other issues related to festive preparation works were discussed in detail. The MMC councillors were also present.
It was decided to allow the temporary firework stalls to operate from opposite the taxi-stand while a few will be allowed to function from the permanent shops inside the market after complying with the necessary fire safety requirements. Firework stalls have to obtain NOC from the fire station in addition to licenses from MMC to ensure safety measures are adopted during the season
Mapusa fire station in-charge Bosco Ferrao requested that MMC provide them with easy access in case of emergency in the market during the festival.
“NOCs to the previously issued owners of the permanent shops will be renewed provided they comply with the safety norms and keep their goods inside and not on the footpaths. The temporary firework stalls will have to comply with the guidelines of the Explosive Act. The fire hydrant points at the market that are encroached by daily vendors need to be cleared,” said Bosco.
Traffic PI Tushar Vernekar proposed to shift the inter-state buses to the outskirts of the town during the period to avoid congestion.
MMC chairperson assured that the buses will be parked in the area opposite Bodgeshwar Temple three days prior to Chaturthi and will continue till September 26”.
Mapusa PI Tushar Lotlikar proposed that the MMC look into the issue of CCTV surveillance cameras as most in the market area were non-functional.
The chairperson said, “We will look into the matter and write to the agency, which has set up these cameras. Sometime back, the MMC had passed a resolution to install seven new CCTV surveillance cameras at prime locations in the town. This will be taken up before the festival”.
The Mapusa Merchants’ Association president Ashish Shirodkar said the chairperson has taken good decisions with regards to decongesting the market and its surrounding areas during the festive season.
