Team Herald
PANJIM: The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has failed to streamline the operations of the fruit vendors in Mapusa.
Out of over 60 fruits vendors, 37 have been shifted to the lane opposite the Mapusa Bazaar, which was vacant after the vegetable market was shifted recently.
The fruit market will continue to be divided in three places as the municipality is reluctant to sort out the issues of the vendors. The remaining 27 vendors will reportedly be shifted in front of the mutton shops, while some of them will join the vegetable vendors at paradise lane.
The shifting was carried out without a single representative of the MMC being present to control the situation. After the shifting, market committee chief Franky Carvalho and a municipal worker came to the site and started clearing the area opposite the Mapusa bazaar, which created chaos and a huge police force had to be deployed.
It may be recalled that on Wednesday, MMC Chairperson Sandeep Falari and Franky Carvalho had met the fruit vendors and asked them to shift in front of the mutton market on Saturday. The fruit vendors had selected the site.
Surprisingly, the vendors did not shift on Saturday. Instead, a new area was marked at the lane opposite the Mapusa Bazaar, which was lying vacant after the vegetable vendors shifted.
Speaking to reporters, Carvalho said that they don’t have any role with regard to fruit vendors.
Falari said that the MMC’s goal of de-congesting Shakuntala had been achieved.
Surprisingly, the municipal administrative staff members who were responsible for implementing the council’s decision were nowhere to be seen at the market during the entire shifting process. When asked about the same, Falari refrained from replying.
