VASCO: Niz Goenkar Revolutionary Front’s Spokesperson Chandrakant Vast said that instead of wasting funds in installing new temporary shed on the footpath in the heart of port town and create inconvenience to the people, Mormugao Municipal Council should shift the fish vendors in the old fish market premises which is underutilised for years.
On Tuesday, Vasta told Herald that installing a structure on the footpath is against the High Court guidelines and therefore MMC instead of going ahead with the temporary shed on the footpath should in fact shift fish vendors in the old fish market premises which is standing tall and only needs some minor repairs and cleaning.
He further questioned the intentions of the local governing authorities who have failed to make better utilisation of the existing infrastructure and pressing on installing a new infrastructure on the footpath which is against the High Court guideline.
He also criticised the MMC cowing down to the pressure of the fish vendors.
He said that the MMC is the local governing and decision making body and it should strictly implement their decision in free and fair manner without succumbing to any pressure. As per my view the fish vendors should have been shifted to the old fish market with repair work of the infrastructure and the government funds could have been utilised for several other projects which are yet to see the daylight in Vasco.
Later, when contacted the outgoing MMC Chief Officer Arvind Bugde denied any request from anyone asking to shift the fish vendors to the old market premises. “The market has been planned as per the fish vendors’ convenience,” he mentioned.
Bugde said that the MMC is open for exploring alternatives but till date the council has not received any official request for any changes in the proposal.
