TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
VASCO: Mormugao Municipal council on Wednesday demolished an illegal fruit stall which had come up on the footpath near T B Cunha Circle at Vasco.
Municipal market inspectors along with MMC workers seized watermelons, a weighing scale and other materials before demolishing the fruit stall amid a strong police force.
The stall owner, one Abdulha along with his wife, reportedly tried to object to the seizure of the fruit and demolition of the stall and demanded that he be rehabilitated to an alternate site.
As Abdulla tried to object the MMC staff while discharging their duty, police took him away and made him sit in the police vehicle till the demolition was completed.
“I am being politically targeted and the MMC chief officer demolished only my stall at the behest of a politician,” alleged Abdulha.
When contacted, MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes stated that he was not under any pressure from the politicians to demolish the fruit stall.
“Since the last few days, MMC has started an encroachment drive and about six illegal hand-carts selling fruits at various locations in the city are seized,” stated Fernandes. “The District Court had served a demolition notice to Abdulha as he had illegally occupied the footpath and had even procured electricity connection,” added Fernandes.
Fernandes further said that acting on the demolition order from the court, MMC workers had gone to demolish the fruit stall earlier but had to return as Abdulla sought a 15-day additional period.
“It’s almost two months now Abdulha has failed to keep up to his promise, due to which MMC had to initiate the action and demolish the fruit stall,” he added.
When brought to his notice that there were other stalls encroaching on the footpath, Fernandes said everything will be cleared in the days to come.