Team Herald
PONDA: In a spirited demonstration, Ponda market vendors staged a morcha against the vendors and encroachments on footpaths of the market area, demanding their removal.
The vendors also urged the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) to take action against those selling goods behind the municipal market along the approach road.
Led by representatives Gharu Sawant and Narendra Parab, the vendor delegation met PMC Chairperson Anand Naik to voice their concerns. They argued that the presence of footpath vendors, particularly during the festive season, is severely impacting their sales.
Sawant highlighted that the PMC allowing the footpath vendors to sell Diwali items, including traditional Akashkandils, is detrimental to those operating within the market shed, as customers are drawn to the stalls outside instead of entering the market.
Parab suggested that relocating footpath vendors into the market shed could create a win-win situation for all parties involved. He emphasised that it is unfair towards the vendors who pay regular taxes throughout the year and that they are at a disadvantage during the peak shopping periods like Diwali.
The vendors expressed frustration over the sudden permission granted for footpath stalls, questioning how shopkeepers within the municipal market can sustain their businesses under such circumstances. They warned that if the PMC does not take prompt action, they would escalate their protests.
In response to the protest, Chairperson Naik assured the vendors that the PMC is committed to making decisions that benefit all vendors, referring to positive outcomes from previous festivals, such as Ganesh Chaturthi. He promised that the council would consider the matter carefully to find a suitable resolution.