Team Herald
PONDA: ‘Amchi Vyapari Sangatana’, the newly formed group of Ponda market vendors, has submitted a memorandum to the Ponda Municipal Council chief officer, seeking the removal of footpath vendors, who are allegedly eating into the market vendors’ business.
Addressing the press, AVS general secretary Garu Sawant stated that PMC Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes had assured to clear the vendors who encroached on the footpath. According to the market vendors, they do not get any business and are suffering losses, as customers prefer to buy goods from the footpath vendors. They also claimed that the footpath vendors were creating parking problems and traffic congestion, besides inconveniencing pedestrians using the footpath.
They suggested that the footpath vendors be shifted either to the market shed or to the new market complex so that their livelihood is not affected. The market vendors have also demanded the appointment of supervisors to monitor the functioning of market, even on Saturday and Sunday.
Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar has alleged that the ruling group of the PMC was responsible for dividing the market vendors, which resulted in the formation of AVS. However, AVS has refuted the MLA’s allegations.
Sawant said that since the vendors’ problems, including sopo hike, footpath vendors, could not solved by PVS, some market vendors were forced to split and form a new group. He also denied having affiliations with any political party.
