MAPUSA: A team of Mapusa Municipality headed by Municipal Engineer Subhash Amonkar, Municipal Inspector Vikas Kamble sealed an unauthorised commercial complex owned under police protection near Carvalho petrol pump on Monday.
It may be recalled that earlier last week, the newly appointed Chief Officer Sitaram alias Deepesh Sawal had issued an order to seal the premises. Around 34 shops were sealed under police protection.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
These premises were operating illegally without obtaining required permissions of concerned authorities. RTI activist Jawaharlal Shetye had complained against the said activities.
The traders in the complex expressed their indignation over this action. Traders claimed that the municipality staff sealed the complex without following the required process. Before the staff could seal the shops, the traders got into a quarrel with the staff. However, the Municipality team ignored the traders and completed their sealing process.
It is learnt that the action on the shops was delayed due to delay in getting police protection.
A trader Richard Fernandes said, ”These businesses did not start overnight. If the businesses were illegal, then why didn’t the municipality stop the work immediately? Why the action was initiated when the businesses had started operating? People took loan to start their business”.
Another trader said, “We have not received any notice from the municipality regarding this action. I understood about this action from newspapers and social media. I didn’t even get time to remove the materials from the shops. We have applied for a trade licence in the municipality. However, no response has been received from the municipality”.
