Team Herald
CURCHOREM: Local MLA and Power Minister Nilesh Cabral on Wednesday rebuked the traders in Curchorem for occupying the parking space meant for visitors in the town’s market.
The minister has asked the traders to park their vehicles at alternate sites away from the market so that people can get sufficient place to park their vehicles for few minutes.
The traders were rebuked during a meeting they had with the minister to discuss the problems at Curchorem market and the difficulties faced by them since the ban on mining. The meeting was held at the Curchorem-Cacora Municipal Council (CCMC) conference hall.
Addressing the traders, Cabral said, “More than 40 percent traders keep their vehicles in front of their own shops in the market thus occupying the parking denying space for the public who come for shopping in Curchorem market.”
Addressing the media after the meeting, Cabral said, “As per the Curchorem Traffic cell, more than 40 percent shop owners park their own vehicle in front of their shops in the marked parking area throughout day thus denying parking for general public who come for shopping.”
He said that he has asked the traders to park their vehicles at alternate sites away from the market so that people can get sufficient place to park their vehicles for few minutes.
Curchorem Market Association President Rocha Pereira said that the municipal council has assigned them responsibility to organise the market properly.
“Since this is mining dependent place and the market is totally down and the business community is facing several difficulties, we requested the Council to allow the street vendors to occupy only the passages of the buildings only during Sunday bazaar day and rest of the days it will remain free from encroachments,” Pereira assured.
CCMC Chairman Balkrishna (Pinty) Hodarkar said that he is of the opinion that it is not right to allow the street vendors to occupy the passages as a separate vendor zone has been created near the GSUDA market as per the Supreme Court order.
“But since the majority of the council members agreed to allow them for one month on trial basis as requested by association, I have to abide by their decision,” he said.
Hodarkar made it clear that the municipality “We will not be responsible if the old street vendors who were shifted in the vendor zone near GSUDA market as per Supreme Court direction raised objection for allowing new street vendors to sit in passages of the building within one meter from the shutters of the shops as requested by the association.”
“Therefore, we asked the association to organise the market on trial basis for one month and later we will take a decision accordingly,” he said.
Chief Officer Ajay Gaude said that the Council had taken a decision to keep all the passages/footpaths free from encroachments as per Supreme Court order and accordingly they shifted street vendors suitably in the vendor zone and that was functioning smoothly and all vendors are happy.
“I cannot be a part of decision making but my duty is to advice the council and I clearly advised them that as per law nobody can occupy the open spaces or footpaths/passages for marketing,” Gaude said and added that he clearly advised the council not to take any decision to allow street vendors in building passages nor shop owners to keep their goods within one meter from their shutters which will violate the High Court/Supreme Court order.
