PANJIM: In an inhuman act during the COVID-19 pandemic wherein thousands have lost their jobs, the Corporation of City of Panaji workers on Monday lifted the stock and cleared the pathway leading from EDC Patto Plaza to Panjim bus stand.
The vendors, mostly Goans, pleaded with the workers saying they are jobless and their husbands too have been removed from the jobs and please let them do business to survive.
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However, the CCP officials did not listen and took away all their stock and damaged them too.
Speaking to the reporters, the vendors – mostly ladies, said that they have been doing business for almost eight years now and every time the CCP comes here and troubles them.
“We do not do anything illegal nor do we cheat anyone but they always come here and harass us. They took away our stock worth thousands of rupees,” alleged one female vendor.
The CCP team was led by sanitary inspector, supervisor and workers along with some police constables.
Another lady said that the police and CCP also push them at night.
“Our husbands are sitting at home as they have been removed from the jobs due to COVID pandemic. How are we supposed to survive? Will Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate or Mayor Uday Madkaikar help us? No, they won’t, they will only make promises,” she said.
Another woman said when they went to do some business at Panjim market during Ganesh Chaturthi again the CCP and police troubled them.
“What are we supposed to do?” She asked adding “why this treatment to the Goans?”
She said that the non-Goans are freely doing businesses across Goa such as fish, fruit and all along the highway and markets.
“Where are the Goans supposed to go?” She asked.
When the reporters questioned the sanitary inspector why they were harassing the Goan vendors, he said, they were illegally occupying the footpath.
“We have warned them several times but they do not listen and create hindrance and block the smooth flow of the pedestrians,” he said.
