Shweta Kamat
The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has decided to allow only traditional vendors for the fair from next year onwards. This comes after shop and establishment owners around the Garcia de Orta garden objected to the fair in the area as it blocked access to their establishments and led to parking problems, traffic jams and hygiene issues.
The Corporation has also decided to ensure that the commercial occupants do not face any loss during the three-day fair, celebrated every year from December 8.
Nearly 23 shop and establishment owners from the area had opposed the fair and contended that if the fair is a traditional one, then only traditional vendors should be allowed to set up stalls.
“The event entails closing an entire block of business area during the entire duration of the fair. Due to poor infrastructure in the area, parking, which is already scarce, becomes completely unavailable. The fair traders and attendees do not pay any attention to cleanliness and are often found littering the water drains and footpaths. These are all non-Goan traders,” the establishment owners said in their letter to CCP.
On Monday evening the owners met with Panjim Mayor Surendra Furtado on the issue and the meeting ended with a positive assurance.
“Vendors selling traditional goods and who have been an integral part of this fair for last few years will be given preference,” Furtado told the delegation while assuring that the Samba Festival, held during Carnival would be shifted to Miramar.
Furtado expressed the Corporation’s helplessness in shifting the entire fair from the area, but promised to see that the entry to permanent establishments is not blocked. At the first instance, Furtado on Monday evening removed two stalls that were blocking the entrance of a few shops and establishments.
“We are very happy with the CCP’s cooperation. They have shifted some vendors who were blocking access,” Agnelo D’Mello, Manager of Titan Showroom, said after the meeting.
Owner of J D Fernandes enterprises, Oswald Fernandes, said they are satisfied with the way CCP has handled the issue. He said that the Corporation has assured to have better management and infrastructure during the fair next year.
“We welcome the move to allow only traditional vendors for the fair. We appreciate it. Being a traditional fair, it’s the right of traditional vendors,” Fernandes said.
December 8 is celebrated as the feast of Mary the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of Panjim. A large number of devotees flock to the church for services and then spend time in the square below.
