Team Herald

PANJIM: A day after chaos over the removal of stalls of the annual Gokulasthami fair from the Panjim promenade on the banks of River Mandovi, the government allowed the traditional fair to relocate at Kala Academy giving the anxious vendors relief.

The CCP on Wednesday afternoon had begun demolishing the structures claiming the fair on the footpath was against High Court directions even as the vendors cried foul arguing they had paid fees to the corporation. The CCP then gave them 24 hours to remove the temporary stalls and even refund the fee amount.

CCP later called on Minister for Art & Culture Govind Gaude to arrive at a consensus that the fair be shifted to Kala Academy campus. Accordingly, Mayor Surendra Furtado said he informed Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar about the development and the latter was happy with the decision. “I thank Gaude for the immediate response,” Furtado said.

On Thursday morning, in a letter to the Member Secretary of Kala Academy, CCP Commissioner Dipak Desai said that National Green Tribunal and High Court do not permit such activities on the footpath. “This fair cannot be allowed on the Campal promenade/footpath and other areas as there are no other areas available in the city. After discussion with the Mayor and stakeholders, it is decided to check the feasibility of allowing the said fair, which includes furniture and other stalls, in the Kala Academy campus. You are requested to check the possibility of allowing such a fair by considering the NGT order and other orders if any to allow it in Kala Academy campus,” reads the letter. 

Accordingly, the exhibition was relocated to the new premise which is allowed to continue till August 24.