Team Herald
VASCO: Shopkeepers behind Cine Vasco theatre have complained of harassment by the Mormugao municipal officials in guise of anti-encroachment drive.
However, chief officer said that action is taken only on the encroachers.
Recently, the Mormugao Municipality has undertaken an anti-encroachment drive in a town against the vendors and shopkeepers who were illegally blocking and encroaching the footpaths. The drive received stiff opposition from some vendors whose business was badly affected due to the drive.
A group of shopkeepers and vendors informed that they are being regularly harassed by the Assistant Taxation Officer and other officials who suddenly come, seize and shift commodities inside the shop.
The shopkeepers also demanded that the implementation of rule should be done uniformly. “If there is genuine case of encroachment on footpaths, then the municipality should act on it, but it shouldn’t harass those who are not the violators,” said a shopkeeper.
When contacted, Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes said, “Most of them are out of Line of Control, because of this we have to take action on illegal footpath encroachment,” he added.
