City Mayor Uday Madkaikar said that the upcoming council meeting will discuss penalties to be imposed on the violators. He said that the CCP received complaints from the Principal of Don Bosco School, as well as shop owners, of a foul smell emanating from the vicinity. Interestingly, the Mayor says CCP workers cleaned the place but the complaints didn’t stop. After an inspection it was found that all food waste was dumped in the drain resulting in a foul smell and breeding of mosquitoes.
The kiosks have been seized and CCP is even considering suspension of their licences. CCP says that despite collecting the garbage daily, the operators have been dumping waste in the drain. The question arises, as to who all are to be blamed for the mess? While the kiosk operators are responsible for the mess, can CCP wash its hands off the issue?
Look at the place where the kiosks are situated. Even if the drains were kept clean, can such a congested and filthy place to be used as a food court? Is this cul-de-sac, between the high profile school and some residences near the municipal market building, to be even considered as a proper site for a food court?
In May 2018, almost two year ago, CCP had shifted these 17 mobile kiosks from the children’s park near the Church Square, Samrat theatre and National theatre to the vicinity of Don Bosco School and Vaidya hospital. The action came after the Panaji Hotel and Traders Association (PHATA) had raised the issue of the kiosks creating a nuisance in the locality, serving food cooked in unhygienic conditions and operating well into the night.
The then Panjim mayor Vithal Chopdekar, a hotelier himself, had stated that it was decided to move the kiosks that were temporarily operating from the children’s park as residents had complained that the space meant for children was being misused. He had said that the park would be developed by Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation. If the kiosks were to be moved to the new site why did the CCP not develop the place as a proper food court? In the monsoon the area gets worse as it floods. Most importantly, the place is so close to the public toilet that it always stinks. Could CCP not put proper pavers, better footpaths, proper benches in place?
Besides, the place has several huge trees and the falling leaves make the area unclean. Fallen leaves also can carry diseases such as anthracnose, a type of fungus. The place also proper shade to protect the ground from falling leaves and bird droppings.
The kiosk operators say the drains are clogged because of the leaves and some rude customers who do not follow discipline and do not throw waste in the bins. Blaming the vendors is easy, but don’t the big hoteliers and restaurateurs also create a nuisance in city? What action has CCP taken or plans to take on these restaurants/hotels? Among the operators of the 17 kiosks, many are Goan and the kiosks are their only livelihood. Now, that CCP says the Council meeting will decide on the action, how do they expect the kiosks owners to survive until then? Besides, the owners say they are paying all legitimate licence fees to the corporation as per requirement. So CCP is duty bound to keep the area clean. Merely, blaming the operators will not help.
