13 Dec 2017 | 06:32am IST
All is fair in the new feast fair
Mobile toilets were also put up at strategic points by the contractor; No traffic chaos caused during the fair, only parking for two-wheelers missing
Garbage thrown all over the place, traffic chaos, lack of space, dust and huge amount of inconvenience was the old story of Immaculate Conception feast at Margao. The situation has changed for good this time. The feast fair this time has been shifted on the municipal land opposite the SGPDA ground. The decision has been welcomed by several citizens and the reasons are visible in the fair these days. There is more order and organisation in the fair this time around than the usual chaos every year.
The Margao municipality’s decision to make the Immaculate Conception feast plastic free has got a very good response from the society. However, it is going to take some more time for the fair to become completely plastic free. One of the feast fair vendors while speaking to Herald, said, “Initially even the people and the vendors were using a lot of plastic bags. However on the second day police found a vendor using plastic bags and issued him fine of Rs 2000.”
The vendors were now worried and ever since have drastically reduced the use of plastic in their business. The message has also reached the people, according to the vendor, as most of the people have been coming with their own cloth or other bags to the fair.
People coming at the feast have openly remarked saying that there is very little problem in traffic and also in parking this year. The furniture section of the fair has, however, remained on the SGPDA ground for convenience. SGPDA is going to get the rent for the furniture vendors at the ground.
The vendors used to complain that lot of dust rose when customers used to walk in the fair organised at the SGPDA ground. This time the contractor has laid green net carpet on the ground so that there is minimum dust raised at the fair.
A better side of the MMC decision has been of the reduced traffic chaos and nuisance to pedestrians. Since the feast stalls have their rear side facing the main road a trench dividing the footpath and stalls has also reduced the hassles of the pedestrians on the footpath to a great extent.
The MMC and the contractor has also built temporary toilets for the benefit of the vendors and customers at strategically good positions.
Even though there are several plus points there are some negatives too which also need to be looked into in the following feast fairs, said a source. One of the suggestions is handling the garbage in a more judicious manner. Even after the fear of punishment and fine on using plastic at the fair, garbage could be seen thrown on the road sides and on the sides of the footpaths. This is required to be curbed with presence of large 240 litres dustbins.
There was no proper place for two-wheeler parking. Several people were seen searching for parking and eventually parked on turns and around bushes.
Yet another problem was that of urinating in the open as there was an unbearable stench of urine around one of the entries.
Customers and vendors have been requesting the MMC to allow the fair to continue for two more days on Friday and Saturday. A vendor said “We thank the MMC for the well coordinated and organised feast.”
He further said “It is a request from the vendors to let us continue the feast fair for Friday and Saturday. The business has been low this time and Friday and Saturday will compensate for the same,” he said.
The vendors also said that the feast at Curtorim is from Monday and the two extra days will enable them to directly transfer business to Curtorim.
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Immaculate Conception feast celebrated
The annual feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at the Holy Spirit Church, Margao was celebrated with pomp and gaiety on December 8.
Fr. Jose Roque Gonsalves, Director of the Clergy Home, Margao was the main celebrant at the solemn concelebrated feast mass at 9:45 am and preached the homily.
On this festive occasion, the Holy Spirit Parish organised its annual “Fellowship Dinner” on the church ground from 6:45 pm, with a cultural programme.
The theme was "Love of Christ urges us to build Fellowship”. The cultural programme began with the lighting of the traditional family lamp led by the Parish Priest Fr. Avinash Rebelo, other priests of the church along with the two elders each from different wards, under the jurisdiction of the Holy Spirit Parish. “Phoenix Band” was in attendance.
