Team Herald
MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council has now decided to act tough against the illegal business activities in the jurisdiction of the civic body.
On Thursday, a drive was conducted at many places in the town and a few illegal gaddas were removed.
However, clashes between the MMC team and gadda owners were also witnessed at the time of operation at Azad Nagri, near Margao Konkan Railway Station.
Reacting to the incident, MMC Chairperson Lyndon Pereira said that such a drive against illegal business activities will continue and the civic body will not bend before the people involved in illegal business activities.
Gadda owners and a few locals at Azad Nagri alleged that this drive is being conducted under the pressure of political leaders. They also questioned the civic body; why the municipality is collecting the sopo from them, if the gaddas are illegal.
A team led by Santo Fernandes, Market Inspector of Margao Municipality commenced the drive against the illegal gaddas at Azad Nagri on Thursday evening, wherein the civic body had identified nearly seven illegal gaddas operating in the locality. The gaddas were erected on the footpath.
“As per the orders we have taken strict action against the illegal gaddas put up on the footpaths in the jurisdiction of Margao Municipality. Few from Gogol, Azad Nagri and other places have been removed,” he informed.
However, the MMC team were forced to face a tough time at Azad Nagri, wherein the gadda owners and a few locals alleged harassment from the civic body.
“Why the municipality not taking action against the other illegal activities, and why after the poor people; trying to earn their livelihood by doing small businesses?” locals questioned.
The chairperson told Herald that the civic body has decided to act tough against the illegal business activities in the jurisdiction of the municipality. “We have even initiated strict action against the illegal business activities at the wholesale fish market. Illegal gaddas will be removed,” he stated.
