Will the long-pending dream of having a multi-purpose market project come true? Will the political differences amongst Quepemcars stall the proposed project? Will the vendors be forced to remain in open place for a long time? These are among the many questions that are troubling Quepemkars.
For past ten years the market project remain embroiled in controversies and neglect due to political differences and inflated egos of politicians that has kept the market project in a limbo.
The Council had recently initiated the work to reconstruct the multi-facility market project and GSUDA had also sanctioned funds for the project, with the first phase project of reconstruction already tendered.
Meanwhile, the Council had shifted all vendors and occupants to the alternate place. Some shopkeepers have shifted to the council’s location, some fish, vegetable and meat vendors have shifted to the temporary shed near Quepem cemetery.
A month ago all vendors had vacated the old premises except a dealer who had occupied one shop at old complex and refused to shift because the council had not granted him place. Half of the building was demolished a month ago and in spite of the working and imminent danger of collapse the vendor ran his business in the half-demolished building putting not only his life at risk, but also his customers. Finally, just a few days ago, the council succeeded in convincing the dealer and subsequently started demolition work with the help of the JCB machine on Monday.
During this time, a Councillor Amol Kanekar had complained against the Council’s act and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Officer to stop the old market building work, saying it was illegal.
Acting upon the complaint, the Chief Officer Dessai issued an order to stop the demolition work. The Councillor told media that the Council had not followed proper procedure to demolish the market building and he found something fishy in the entire episode. Therefore, the market project work has been stalled once again.
Quepem Municipal Council and the local MLA and leader of opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar has been trying hard to get market project for the past ten years.
First the government authorities did not show interest to the project because MAC was under the opposition party. Finally, the Chairperson of MAC Rahul Pereira convinced the Urban Development Minister Francisco Dsouza to grant them funds for much-needed market project.
The DMA had sectioned the project and even released grants for the project and even when the rendering was completed it is difficult to understand how the same sanctioning authority has stopped the work. DMA sources said that demolition work was mentioned in the new project plan and there was no need to give the work to a separate contractor.
Whatever may be the reason, the ultimate sufferers are the vendors, who have been doing business sitting in open for the past ten years with a hope that they would get a permanent structure. An though they have shifted to the temporary shed near the cemetery, it looks like their woes will not end any time soon.
The first phase of the projected which was supposed to start in October is already two months behind schedule. If this controversy of demolishing is not solved soon, the project may be delayed for a long time, opined some of ruling Councillors
Reconstruction work was expected to complete by December next year.
The Council had planned a multi-facility market project worth Rs 10 crore, where the first phase would have the fish, vegetable and meat market, besides some shops. The first floor would have offices and the third floor would have a hall.
