MARGAO: Expressing frustration against the illegal encroachment on the footpaths, several Margao residents have demanded a strict action from the Margao Municipal Council against the shop owners.
On Tuesday, residents informed Herald about the encroachments on the footpaths, which have resulted in blocking the public access.
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However, Santo Fernandes, market inspector of civic body assured that action will be initiated against the vendors and shop owners for illegal encroachments.
“It has become a regular feature of encroachments in the commercial town of Margao. We have noticed that at many places no access is being left for the public to work on the footpaths,” said Peter Fernandes.
According to Fernandes, this issue has become a significant concern for the residents and the civic body fails to conduct regular drives against the encroachments.
“The civic body needs to conduct regular drives against the encroachments and the shop owners should to be fined heavily, so that such illegalities are not repeated again,” demanded residents.
Many residents are of the opinion that there is a special section to look into encroachments but action is seen only after complaints.
It has been also noticed that the encroachments by the vendors block the path of pedestrians and causes traffic congestion as they literally hijacked the footpaths.
Another resident Rohan Shirodkar, alleged that many non-Goans are carrying out business activities by the roadside and also on the footpath, but hardly any action is initiated by the municipality.
However, MMC Market Inspector Santo Fernandes told Herald that strict action will be initiated against the vendors and shop owners engaged in illegal encroachments on the footpaths.
“We have been carrying out encroachment drives on regular intervals,” he informed.
