The fragrance at the Mapusa municipal market’s flower mart has turned stale following a tussle between the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) and the traders in this mart.
While MMC has approved the infrastructure proposed in the Master Plan of Mapusa market, the issue of the flower mart still hangs in the balance due to opposition from the vendors.
Besides flowers, the mart also has shops and vendors dealing in bread, dry fish, tailoring and other small shops.
Given the deteriorating condition of the flower mart, the MMC had recently decided to demolish the structure and construct a multi-storey market in its place.
However, all the vendors in the flower mart have decided to oppose MMC’s plans to demolish the market and have, instead, requested MMC to repair and paint the structure.
The flower, jaggery and daily vendors located in the flower mart have submitted separate memorandums to the MMC, requesting the council not to demolish the market, as it would affect their livelihood.
“We have been doing business and earning our livelihood for over 15 years and if we are displaced, we will be in trouble. The condition of the building is good and it can be repaired and painted,” stated one memorandum.
When contacted, All Goa Merchants Federation Chairman Narayan Karekar said the flower mart has heritage value as it was constructed during the Portuguese regime.
“No doubt the building has become old, but it can be certainly repaired and painted. The construction of this building is quite good. Some vendors are doing business since Liberation and their business is settled and as such, it is not advisable to disturb their business activities,” said Karekar.
Mapusa Merchants Association President Yeshwant Gawandalker said the flower mart was necessary, especially since the Mapusa municipal market had already become congested.
“If the MMC demolishes the flower market, where will all these vendors do their business,” asked Gawandalker.
Former MMC chairperson Sandeep Falari said the council had unanimously decided to demolish the flower market. “The flower mart is located centrally in Mapusa market. There are 19 shops, three ‘Banca Fixa’ and 23 ‘Cubiculus’ inside the flower mart, which are permanent establishments,” Falari said.
“MMC gets a monthly rent of only Rs 13,190 from these permanent establishments. Besides, there are also other daily vendors such as bread sellers (8), flower sellers (30) and tailors (10). MMC gets about Rs 28,000 monthly from these daily vendors. Along the periphery of the flower mart, there are 11 kiosks, 16 stalls and one ‘BancaFixa’, adding a meagre monthly rent of only Rs 13,455 to the MMC,” added Falari.
“Considering the size and location of the flower mart, this revenue is peanuts and the time has come for MMC to increase its revenue. Hence, MMC decided to demolish the existing flower market and construct a new multi-storey market so that MMC can earn more revenue,” he said.
Falari accused some people of creating confusion and apprehension among daily vendors, kiosks and stall owners outside the flower mart and scaring them that the MMC would not allow them to do business in the proposed new flower market.
“This is not true. MMC will accommodate all the existing permanent and daily vendors, including those on the periphery of the market,” assured Falari.
“All stakeholders will be taken into confidence before constructing the new flower market. The purpose of constructing a new market is to earn more revenue and provide good environment to the vendors,” said Falari.
