MAPUSA: Residents of Porvorim on Tuesday marched to the office of Transport Department in Panjim questioning the unwarranted action taken against the vendors in their area despite of running the business legally. The vendors felt they are being targeted as many of them were issued hefty fines. They have also decided to take legal step to know how they could be fined who were running their business for years.
A delegation led by Zilla Panchayat member Gupesh Naik and Sarpanch of Pehna de Franca Swapnil Chodankar met the Director of Transport seeking clarification about his officials who were fined. The vendors had been doing their business legally in the demarcated spaces, without obstructing any traffic.
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Speaking to media Local MLA Rohan Khaunte said, “People are trying to earn their living through various legal means in the scenario where the livelihood has been adversely affected due to pandemic situation. We have requested the local panchayats to extend their helping hand to the locals to get into small businesses since government has stopped all the social welfare schemes, leaving people to fend for themselves. But now when the people are trying to do something on their own, they are being suppressed by the government agencies”, Khaute added.
“We will not tolerate, if officers act according to the directions of government. We have decided not to pay the fines and instead move legally seeking clarification why the fines are imposed,” Khaute said.
Khaunte further said that senior RTO officers are pointing out towards an NGO which has filed petition in their office. “When I spoke to members of the NGO, they told me that they have no objection against the vendors but they had complained against the converted vehicles used for various businesses. I feel that the politics is being played and common people are being targeted and harassed,” Khaute added.
“If some government servants are miscommunicating and executing the action for their own benefit, then they will also be taken to task. Officers who blindly follow the unlawful dictates, will have to answer to the judiciary for their actions,” Khaute added.
