MARGAO: Dipali Sawal, Vice-Chairperson and Chairman of the market committee of the Margao Municipal Council, has strongly denied allegations of harassment and clarified the committee’s stance on addressing illegalities in the new market.
Many traders in the
market have expressed dissatisfaction as the civic body takes steps to put an end to illegal practices within the shops.
Sawal emphasized that the market committee has never instructed security guards to impede business operations in the municipality-owned market. Instead, they have directed them to maintain strict vigilance against illegal activities.
Responding to criticism from Vinod Shirodkar, President of the New Market Traders Association, who accused the Market Committee of unprecedented harassment and specifically questioned Sawal’s motives, she refuted the allegations, stating that they are false and baseless.
She further explained that the market committee has evidence of repairs and extensions being carried out without permission from the civic body, mostly by non-Goans.” However, there are still several Goan traders who make a point to come to the Municipality and request for the repair of their shops. There are also
several traders who have sold the shops to the non-Goans illegally and are now criticising the civic body,” she said.
Sawal informed that the civic body has granted permissions for traders to operate their businesses until 11.30 pm to enable them to earn profits during these times. She issued a warning that the Market Committee will not tolerate any illegal activities within the market.
Meanwhile, Mahesh Amonkar, a councillor and member of the market committee, urged traders in the New Market to join efforts in stopping illegal business activities on the footpaths.
