MARGAO: The Margao new market vendors have hit out at the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) for failing to take up their grievances and instead for being more concerned about the illegal footpath vendors.
President of New Market Traders Association Vinod Shirodkar pointed out the traders have been facing a lot of issues and suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic period and yet the councillors had not bothered to put in efforts to see that the vendors get some assistance or relief.
While Shirodkar thanked new MMC Chief Officer Rohit Kadam for taking steps to address their concern regarding the illegal footpath vendors and look into problems with the dilapidated market buildings, he pointed out that the councillors should have been the ones to try and support them.
Shirodkar had taken offence against councillors trying to get the footpath vendors regularised and warned of holding protests if that happened.
He pointed out that these footpath vendors do not pay the same kind of licencing and other fees that the registered vendors across the jurisdiction of Margao and Fatorda pay. He added that they do not pay GST or Income Tax but a small sopo amount.
