Team Herald
PANJIM: St Cruz MLA Tony Fernandes on Monday assured a delegation of kiosk owners and fruit vendors, who were evicted from outside the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Bambolim that they will be suitably relocated.
When contacted, Fernandes told Herald that he has assured the vendors that he along with his colleague St Andre MLA Francis Silveira will take up their issue with the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and rehabilitate them near the GMC complex, Bambolim.
Fernandes said later in the evening he and Silveira met the Chief Minister, who has asked the Chief Secretary to discuss the plan prepared by the MLAs and to relocate the displaced vendors.
“I have promised vendors that we will rehabilitate them. We also met the Chief Minister, who has asked the Chief Secretary to discuss the issue on Tuesday,” Fernandes said.
On the other hand, vendors’ representative Sandeep Chodankar said the St Cruz MLA has assured them they will be relocated within a fortnight.
“Twelve days have passed and we are yet to be rehabilitated despite assurance by the Chief Minister,” he said hoping that the government will rehabilitate them soon.
As many as 44 kiosks including five which were allotted under the Deendayal Swayam Rozgar Yojna and 20 fruit vendors were evicted by the authorities on July 1, since they had illegally sprouted on the government land.
