VASCO: Irked with the installation of another kiosk at the new Vasco market, the New Modern Market Vendors’ Association, on Monday, staged a protest in the Mormugao municipal hall for prompt action against the municipal staff and councillors who were involved allowing the “illegal” kiosks in the market. NMMVA has claimed that the new kiosk has been placed in such a way that the same was blocking the access of the shopkeepers and people visiting the market.
According to the vendors, they were shocked to find a new kiosk set up in the middle of a pathway. They alleged that the same was set up Saturday night to avoid objection from the existing vendors.
“The moment we found a new kiosk, we immediately approached our association and we all decided to march to the office of MMC CO eepali Naik and chairperson Deepak Naik to seek answers on how the MMC could allow new kiosks in the congested market and how a kiosk could block the normal access to the market,” said Dayaram Kewal, a shopkeeper.
The aggrieved shopkeepers met councillor Krishna Salkar and Leo Rodrigues, MMC market panel chairman. Salkar decided to take the shopkeepers issue before the CO and chairperson.
“The vendors’ demands are genuine and need prompt action. I feel there should be immediate action against those who are allowing new kiosks in the new market. I demand action against those who have violated the rules and made changes to their kiosks as against the specification mentioned in the municipal permissions. MMC should withdraw permissions given to kiosk owners to set a precedent,” said Salkar.
After a lengthy discussion on the issue, CO Naik and the chairperson assured to look into the issue and resolve the same on priority.
“The new kiosk belongs to one Gopinath Morajkar. It was during the tenure of the earlier council that a resolution was passed to allocate a space Morajkar for a kiosk. The gadda owned by Morajkar came under the alignment of the four-lane highway and was situated near the Varunapuri-Mangor Hill junction. As he was displaced and continuously following up the issue with the council, we decided to allocate space to Morajkar to erect his gadda in the new modern market complex as resolved by the earlier council,” informed Naik.
When asked whether the MMC would initiate action against the other illegal kiosks in Vasco, Naik said, “I believe about 95 percent of kiosks in Vasco are illegal as the owners have modified them by putting shutters or expanding their size without informing the council. This is in grave violation of MMC’s permissions, and thus, we will soon start a survey to identify all such kiosks and take appropriate action.”
