MAPUSA: The Mapusa Merchants Association (MMA) staged a peaceful protest by shutting the municipal shops during the Friday market. The shopkeepers were protesting against illegalities carried out in the town related to encroachments by vendors on parking spaces, footpaths and unauthorised vendors carrying out business. Several merchants carried out verification drive against vendors operating in the municipal market.
The merchants association led by its President Ashish Shirodkar later filed a police complaint against the chief officer of the Mapusa Municipal Council for criminal negligence in carrying out his duty under relevant provisions and sections of the law. They said that this action was taken as the MMC has failed to maintain discipline in the market which is of utmost importance.
Shirodkar pointed out that for the last three years the association has been demanding for a town vending committee but nothing has materialised till date.
“We have been consistently demanding with the Chief Officer to constitute a town vending committee under the Street Vendors Protection Act. Despite several written petitions and personal visits he has failed to do so. The inaction of the CO amounts to negligence of his duty which has resulted in unprecedented chaos and a total breakdown in the market resulting in frequent confrontation between street vendors and shopkeepers,” said Shirodkar.
While the Chairperson of MMC, Ryan Braganza has already been carrying out drives in the municipal market area and feels that the incident at the Friday market was politically motivated.
“The issues they are talking about are inherited for the last 15 to 20 years. I had assured them of notifying the vending committee by October end and I am committed towards doing so. I expect that much time from them because once that is in place all issues
will be taken care of,” told the MMC chief.
