ANILKUMAR MISHRA
anilkumar@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Even as the city gears up for Easter celebrations, dozens of displaced beef vendors from the Panjim Municipal Market continue to remain in uncertainty, nine months after their shops were demolished by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP).
Despite a Supreme Court order directing their rehabilitation, the vendors are yet to be allotted even temporary stalls, forcing them to run their businesses from far-flung areas with dwindling customer bases and mounting financial losses.
The delay has not only hurt the vendors but also left consumers across Panjim and surrounding areas struggling to source quality beef during major festivals. With Easter around the corner, the situation has once again cast a shadow over festive
preparations.
“We have been suffering losses for the last nine months. Over half of our business is down,” Mushtak Khatib, who now operates from a village outside the city, told O Heraldo. “When we were in Panjim, customers came from St Cruz, Taleigao, Porvorim, Betim and the city itself. Now, we’re restricted to one village. We lost business during tourism season, Christmas, New Year and now Easter is here, and we’re still without our shops.”
In February, the Supreme Court ordered that vendors be allowed to resume business with temporary arrangements, including deep freezers, refrigerators, meat cutting facilities and shutters for security. The Court also directed that basic water and electricity supply be provided to them. Yet, implementation on the ground remains stalled.
Another vendor, speaking on condition of anonymity, highlighted the consumer impact. “There’s already a shortage of beef. During Eid and Christmas it was the same. Retailers aren’t willing to order large quantities because they’re unsure of where and how we’ll sell it. This Easter, customers will again struggle to get what they need.”
Meat vendors recently submitted a formal representation to CCP, requesting that temporary shops be allotted based on earlier site inspections which clearly demarcated their original locations. However, there has been no progress.
Sources within the CCP said that the work of constructing temporary shops has been tendered, and once the process is complete, a work order will be issued to begin construction.