Mapusa merchants threaten stir if problems are not redressed

PORVORIM, JUNE 13
Venting its anger against Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) for not redressing their grievances despite assurance being given to them, Mapusa Merchants Association has threatened to launch an agitation if MMC does not heed to their demands.
Addressing the media, Mapusa Merchants Association President Yeshwant Gaundalker said the merchants had observed bandh on May 12 to register their protest against hike in various license fees.
“During the meeting convened with the merchants, MMC had agreed to consider our grievances, but MMC has done nothing with regard to lowering taxes/fees,” stated Gaundalker.
“The MMC has earned revenue of Rs 2.32 crore during 2009-10 by way of shop rent, house tax, signboard tax and establishment license fee from Mapusa merchants, but MMC has spend hardly anything for the improvement of market and town,” he said.
Gaundalker expressed indignation against MMC for failing to control the onslaught of vendors and hawkers in the town. “The vendors and hawkers are carrying out their business illegally and the government does not get any revenue from them,” he claimed.
“They are contributing lot of garbage and provide scope for anti-social elements too. MMC is getting only Rs 60 lakh through auction of Sopo as compared to huge revenue contributed by Mapusa merchants and yet MMC is encouraging hawkers,” lamented Gaundalker.
He further said MMC claims to have cleaned up all the drains and gutters in the Mapusa market. “On inspection of drains and gutters, Mapusa Merchants Association found that the work has been done shoddily due to which market is bound to flood during rains.”
“If MMC and Mapusa MLA do not take steps to redress our grievances, we will approach the Urban Development minister and then as a last resort we will launch an agitation, if required,” warned Gaundalker.
All Goa Merchants Federation President Narayan Karekar said the Outline Development Plan 2011 for the town contains several flaws and demanded that it should be scrapped and construction licenses issued to builders based on the ODP should be cancelled forthwith.
“It was duty of the Mapusa MLA to protect interests of the residents of Mapusa while preparing the ODP, but he has failed in his duties,” alleged Karekar.
“The ODP ought to have been prepared by an architect and an engineer, but it has been prepared by assistant engineer sitting in its Panjim office. The fields have been shown as commercial zones and if multi-storied building comes up in these fields, then Mapusa would turn into concrete jungle and there will be severe water and power problems in the town,” he added.
“Mapusa MLA lacks vision, due to which he could not visualise these problems,” claimed Karekar.