MARGAO: Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Dr Babita Prabhudessai’s decision to stop roadside vending of vegetables and fruits by people from outside Salcete is likely to stir up a hornet’s nest as the vendors have decided to defy the ban while an organisation representing them has decided to stage a dharna in front of the municipal building.
It may be recalled that on October 9, following a complaint lodged by the vegetable, readymade & cloth vendors association, Dr Babita had directed the market inspectors to form teams to work on shifts and ensure that the roadside vendors are evicted.
The vendors who mostly come from Canacona taluka to sell their vegetables and fruits in front of the police stations and surrounding areas would to be told that they would not be able to conduct their business from Sunday.
However, the vendors squatting in front of the police station, when contacted, admitted that somebody from MMC had told them that they would not be allowed to conduct their business from Sunday. “But then where else can we go to sell our produce? So, we shall be here tomorrow morning and see what the MMC does,” said one elderly vendor.
