Mapusa bandh evokes good response

PORVORIM, MAY 12
The Mapusa bandh called on Wednesday by All Goa Merchants Federation and Mapusa Merchants Association evoked good response, as shops remained closed during the day.
The Mapusa market wore a deserted look, as shopkeepers, fisherwomen, vegetable and fruit vendors observed total bandh in protest against faulty Outline Development Plan of Mapusa prepared by Town and Country Planning Department and other issues.
Shopkeepers in the vicinity of Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) market also pulled their shutters down and extended full support to Mapusa Merchants Association.
Earlier, the shopkeepers and fisherwomen staged a protest rally through the streets of Mapusa, which culminated at MMC. The morcha was stopped at MMC by the police.
Later, a delegation of merchants led by All Goa Merchants Federation President Narayan Karekar and Mapusa Merchants Association President Yeshwant Gaundalker met Chief Officer Dasharath Redkar, MMC Chairperson Roopa Bhakta and Municipal Engineer Vishnu Naik and submitted a memorandum.
Karekar told municipal authorities that rent hike, sign board tax and establishment fees revised upward by the MMC are unwarranted and unjustified in comparison to the facilities MMC provides for the merchants community.
“The 10% hike in shop rent introduced by MMC in fact amounts to 30% hike considering the fact that the municipal lease agreement is for 3 years. Therefore, the hike being exorbitant is not acceptable to the traders,” stated Karekar in the memorandum.
He further stated that there is no proper illumination in the market, thereby exposing the market to serious threats.
“Hawkers menace coupled with poor regulations of outdoor vendors/hawkers has converted the once famous market in Goa into a chaotic commercial hub,” stated the memorandum.
“With no maintenance of drainage, flooding of market during monsoon has become a regular feature and with no proper plan for garbage collection and disposal, the market has become an unhygienic place,” added Karekar.
“The 20-metre wide road proposed in Mapusa Outline Development Plan should be scrapped,” demanded the Mapusa Merchants Association.
The Mapusa Merchants Association has also demanded that fish market complex should be completed before the onset of monsoon, de-siltation of all gutters and cleaning of all drains in the market before the monsoon to avoid flooding and better and sufficient parking amenities in and around market.
MMC Chairperson Roopa Bhakta assured the merchants that she will convene the meeting of all the councillors by May 17 and place before them their grievances and demands and take necessary action.
Chief Officer Dasharath Redkar said as soon as the work of laying fire hydrants in the market is completed by PWD, MMC will hot mix internal roads in the market and then demarcate the hawkers zone.
“Work of new fish market will be taken up by Goa State Urban Development Agency within two months,” said Redkar.