MMC fails to put an end to encroachments
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, OCT 25
When the High court passed an order directing all civic bodies to crack a whip against encroachments, residents of the Commercial Capital heaved a sigh of relief that the footpaths and pavements will be finally free of encroachments.
Sadly, it’s over a decade since the high court issued the order on encroachments, but obstruction in Margao markets and pavements is literally the order of the day. In fact, successive elected councils have failed to address the burning problem of encroachments, with the municipal authorities turning a blind eye to the menace.
A visit to the markets reveals the worst scenario, with traders en-croaching the passages by displaying their goods in violation of the high court order on encroachments.
Take note, the Margao Municipal has an army of market inspectors and workers to tackle the encroachments, but that has sadly not helped to clear the passages of the obstructions.
It is not out of place to mention here that market inspectors would touch the encroachments only upon an order from the Municipal Chief Officer instead of tackling the menace on a day-to-day basis, indicating the lack of will on the part of the inspectors to tackle the encroachments head on.
That even the fire services had in the past urged the Civic body to clear the encroachments and keep the passages free from any obstructions have not spurred the Civic body to tackle the issue head on.
Leave alone the Municipal markets, it is not uncommon to find the passages and footpaths in the nook and corner of the Civic body encroached upon by traders right under the nose of the market inspectors. Incidentally, the Civic body even lack a suitable place for storage of goods confiscated by the market inspectors during the encroachment drives. So much so, the entrance door of the Municipal building had to be closed for over a month earlier this year when goods confiscated during the drive were dumped at the entrance.
Will the new Council offer any hope for the citizens to walk in the markets free of encroachments, only time will tell.
