Mapusa bandh called in protest against faulty ODP on May 12

Mapusa bandh called in protest against faulty ODP on May 12
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
PORVORIM, MAY 9
All Goa Merchants Federation and Mapusa Merchants Association have called for Mapusa Bandh on Wednesday in protest against faulty Outline Development Plan of Mapusa prepared by Town and Country Planning department.
The bandh has also been called to invite the attention of Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) towards the problems being faced by merchants due to the increase in the number of vendors and hawkers.
In a meeting in Sirsat Hall at Mapusa, Mapusa Merchants Association President Yeshwant Gaundalkar stated that there has been considerable rise in the number of hawkers in Mapusa market due to which the Mapusa market has become congested.
“The MMC has not taken any action against these hawkers despite repeated requests. There is absolutely no control of MMC over these vendors and hawkers,” said Gaundalkar.
“Further, during monsoon every year market gets flooded and water enters the shops, but MMC is yet to take steps to prevent flooding of market. The MMC is collecting several lakhs of rupees from the merchant’s community by way of taxes, but the merchants do not get any benefit in return,” claimed Gaundalkar.
All Goa Merchants Federation President Narayan Karekar said the Outline Development Plan of Mapusa prepared by Town and Country Planning department is chaotic and unbalanced.
“If adopted in its present form, it will defeat the principles and objectives of Town Planning Act which is meant for the regulation of use of land. Hence to register our protest against the ODP not only merchant’s community, but also residents of Mapusa should observe bandh to invite the attention of MMC and concerned authorities,” he said.
Freedom fighter Prabhaker Yende, Chetan Salgaonkar, Rama Raul, Gurudas Dhekne, Jawahar Shetye, Suresh Kamat and Jitesh Dangui also spoke on the occasion.
After detailed discussion, it was unanimously decided to observe bandh on Wednesday and stage a protest rally from municipal market to MMC and submit a memorandum to MMC chairperson and chief officer and urge them to attend to the problems on priority basis.
Mapusa Merchant Association Treasurer Rama Raul proposed the vote of thanks.