PONDA: The Usgao PDA Market is in a dilapidated state for the past 10 years. The 150 vendors, including 48 shop owners operating from this market, had observed a market bandh on May 8, 2015 to draw the attention of government. Almost three years have gone by and there is still no solution to the woes of the vendors.
The PDA Market comprises ground plus one which has a hall. On the first floor, roof tiles are broken, ceilings and rods are exposed and plaster patches are seen falling for many years. There are heavy leakages in the market building as roof sheets are broken and top of the building is exposed to rains. Vendors are forced to keep buckets and install plastic covers to protect their goods from the rain water. Despite several difficulties and risks to their lives, the vendors have managed to continue doing business.
One of the vendors Nyaneshwar Naik says: “The government has neglected the building for the past 25 years. Despite memorandums it is turning a blind eye and appears that it is waiting for a tragedy to occur.”
The market was constructed in 1994 but since then no major maintenance and repairs have been carried out on the market shed, said another vendor.
Shop owners from these buildings have time and again approached the SGPDA to reconstruct or repair the building but their negligence has led to further detoriation, said another vendor.
The vendors said the Chief Town planner had sent a letter to the SGPDA on November 5, 2014 to appoint a consultant to undertake reconstruction of the market but so far nothing has happened.
South Goa Planning and Development Authority, (SGPDA) Chairman Dr Renuka Da Silva said that she is aware of the Usgao market condition and has sent the proposal of renovation to the GSIDC. “We are waiting for its approval,” Renuka said.
At present there are 48 shop vendors operating from the PDA Market shed. Vendors operating from outside the premises include fish, vegetable, chicken, fruits, meat, etc. Wednesdays and Sundays are the market days.
“Around 500 people visit this market daily. This building is almost abandoned by government. We are only getting assurances from the authorities. It appears all are waiting for the building to collapse. Vendors have now decided to repair the building roof. Sarvajanik Ganeshotav Mandal at Usgao has assured to provide financial assistance,” says Dyaneshwar Naik, a grocery shop owner.
Manohar Naik said he was running hardware shop in the PDA Market building, but rain water leakages damage his goods.
