Team Herald
PANJIM: Basavaraj Naraboli, a resident of Carambolim has filed public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition in the High Court of Bombay at Goa seeking to remove carts (gaddas) which have encroached footpaths at Old Goa.
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Petitioner has stated that there are more than 250 carts in the jurisdiction of Old Goa Panchayat and most of them are trading illegally. The carts are erected on the footpath in front of panchayat office while in some places they have been converted into shops.
In a response to an application filed under Right To information (RTI) Act, the Se Old Goa Village Panchayat has confirmed that there are about 250 gaddas. The carts are two-metre-long and one-metre wide and most of them have been issued permanent electricity connection. The pedestrians are unable to use the footpath due parking of the carts on public footpaths, the petitioner has stated.
Although a specific space has been designated for carts in Old Goa, they are parked on footpaths. This also results in traffic congestion during rush hours and causes inconvenience to people. Apart from that these carts parked on the side of the road are being converted into shops and hotels.
According to the petitioner, the Village Panchayat has issued licences to some of the gadda owners to sell tobacco related products. Adv Vibhav Amonkar is representing the petitioner.
