MAPUSA: Bardez Deputy Collector Chandrakant Shetkar had directed the Mapusa market vendors to keep their shops open coming Sunday in view of Ester.
This direction was issued during a meeting that Shetkar had with the Mapusa Merchants Association and police, on Thursday.
At the meeting, Association President Ashish Shirodkar submitted a memorandum to the deputy collector, listing the problems faced by them due to the non-Goan vendors.
Shirodkar complained to the deputy collector that the Mapusa Municipal Council, which is responsible for the market, has not addressed their grievances despite submitting several memorandums and staging protests.
The Mapusa merchants have planned to keep the market closed on Sundays to protest against non-Goans for doing business on Sundays.
The merchants alleged that 50 trucks loaded with goods arrive at the Mapusa market every Sunday morning, conduct business throughout the day and leave in the evening. The merchants suspect that these trucks are either form Dharwad or Hubli. The Sopekar is complicit in the business, they alleged.
After listening to the merchants’ complaints, the deputy collector informed them that he would convene a meeting of the merchants, municipal officials and Mapusa police inspector after ten days, to address their grievances.
The deputy collector assured to intervene and solve their problems, if the same was not solved by the municipality after the next meeting.
