Team Herald
margao: Margao supported the ‘Janta Curfew’ on the second day with some exceptions.
Though the streets wore a deserted look, although there was some traffic plying. The SGPDA and new market remained closed on Monday also as the gates to these markets were not even opened. The wholesale fish market at Fatorda was totally empty.
While the shops at Gandhi Market were closed, the vegetable and fruit vendors carried on their business. However, the police had to step in at around 12 noon to force these vendors to stop their sales.
Earlier, Margao Municipal Council (MMC) staff had come to Gandhi Market at around 10 am to ask these fruit and vegetable vendors to stop their sales.
However, the vendors refused and drove away the MMC personnel stating that they have been asked to carry on with their sales till 11 am.
“We are supporting the government and we had given instructions to all the vendors to stop the sale at 11 am,” said Rajendra Ajgaonkar, brother of Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, who heads the Gandhi Market Readymade and Fruit and Vegetable Vendors Association.
The Margao KTC bus stand wasn’t functioning while Konkan Railway Station only had long-distance trains halting with no train leaving from the station.
Goans dependent upon fish for their daily diet were hard pressed as there was no fish available at all and they had to survive on whatever was there in stock with them or make do with dried fish or fish pickles.
While Margao wore a deserted look, at neighbouring villages like Chandor, some shops remained open and some unauthorised people were selling vegetables and fruits. Chandor Cavorim Sarpanch Edward D’Silva informed that based on the police’s instructions, he had informed all the shopkeepers to keep their stores closed. Maina Curtorim Police later closed down the shops. Similar incidents were observed across Salcete on Monday with some locals complaining about how a few didn’t observe the curfey.
