MARGAO: The stalls which were erected at Chandor for the Epiphany feast on January 6, are still there even though the fair was supposed to last only till January 14.
In fact a member of the Chandor Cavorim Village Panchayat had complained against the continuing of the fair to the Chief Minister and other officials.
A huge fair is usually put up for the feast and usually it continues for days after the feast. However, this year the Chandor Fabrica along with the Parish Priest Fr Simao Rodrigues and the Chandor Cavorim and Guirdolim panchas met and decided that the fair will be permitted to continue till January 14.
The matter appears complicated as it is not clear as to who has given the permission or licence to erect the stalls for the fair as neither the Chandor Cavorim panchayat nor the Fabrica has given such permission. But the stall owners have been paying the ‘sopo’ charges to the church and the Panchayat as well.
Although the stalls were to be dismantled on Monday, most of them continue to do business. Chandor Cavorim Sarpanch Celina Coelho when asked about it said she would call up the Fabrica members.
Parish Priest Fr Simao Rodrigues, who is also the Fabrica president said the stall owners were told that January 14 would be the last date. “However, as they have not dismantled their stalls, later in the evening the Fabrica members will visit all the existing stalls and tell them that they have to dismantle tomorrow,” he said.
Fr Rodrigues admitted that earlier the fair and especially the furniture stalls would remain for even a month after the feast was over. “We shall take the panchayat also along with us if the stalls are not dismantled tomorrow,” he said.
