TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Margao’s SGPDA market witnessed uproar on Thursday morning after the Green Goa Works (GGW) went about its drive to clean up the market from encroachments.
Fruit and vegetable vendors bitterly protested over the action, even as they demanded similar action against encroachments and illegal vending in the wholesale fish market and the Margao municipal markets.
Green Goa Work began its drive in the SGPDA market this morning as part of PDA’s market re-orientation plan, but the exercise encountered resistance from vendors after their goods, beyond the white line were lifted away by a Margao Municipal anti-encroachment squad.
The situation triggered uproar from the vendors who later called on the SGPDA Member Secretary Rajesh Naik to lodge their protest over the drive. The vendors entered into heated exchanges with MMC Market Inspector Mohan Arlekar demanding his locus standi in initiating action in the PDA market when their jurisdiction is restricted to the municipal markets. Arlekar defended his action saying that the PDA had requisitioned the anti-encroachment squad via a written order.
Tempers finally cooled down after the meeting with the SGPDA member secretary when the vendors agreed to enforce the white line. They, however, reiterate their demand that the authorities clean up encroachments in the other markets as well.
Vegetable vendor Francisco Dias objected to the drive by the GGW, demanding to know why similar exercise is not undertaken in the wholesale fish market. “SGPDA vendors are suffering because of illegal vending in the wholesale fish market and the municipal markets. We want similar action against the wholesale fish market as well”, he said.
SGPDA member secretary Rajesh Naik said the PDA has engaged Green Goa works to put the market in order. He said the exercise is being carried out as per the high court directions along with the Margao Municipality.
Meanwhile Green Goa works Convenor Claude Alvares told Herald that the situation returned to normal after initial protests by the vendors.
He said the Green Goa works has a clear directions to ensure environmental cleanliness and to make it the best market in Goa.
On the supply of drinking water to the market, Alvares said water will be supplied to the market from Friday. “The PDA has deposited an amount of Rs one lakh as part payment to the Rs four lakh outstanding amount”, he said.
He said the SGPDA market should see a turn around hopefully by the first week of June.
