TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: The Gandhi Market vegetable and readymade vendors on Tuesday gheraoed Margao Municipal chief officer and chairperson over their long pending demands.
Led by Babu Azgaonkar, the vendors protested over the inordinate delay by the civic body in clearing encroachments. They confronted the chief officer over the empty promises given by the civic body and accused the council for ignoring and overlooking the requirements of basic amenities in the market.
Azgaonkar told the chief officer that the municipal workers are quick in harassing vendors in the Gandhi Market, while turning a blind eye to illegalities across the city. He demanded that the civic body crack a whip against encroachments and vendors occupying public spaces at the textile lane, Sadekar lane etc after office hours.
During discussions, Chairperson Arthur D’Silva contended that the civic body had put forth a proposal to the government for sanctioning additional workers to clear the footpaths and passages of encroachments. D’Silva contended that the civic body is committed to maintain the footpaths and pavements free from encroachments.
Azgaonkar later told newsmen that it is shocking to learn that the municipality cannot engage additional workers to crack a whip against encroachments and roadside vendors for want of government permission.
“We fail to understand whether the government has no money to provide additional workers or whether the government is only giving an impressing that there’s no problem with the coffers”, he wondered.
Arthur D’Silva later told newsmen that the civic body has sought permission from the government to deploy workers to clear encroachments after office hours.
He said the remaining problems cited by the Gandhi Market vendors would be taken up on a priority basis.
