CALANGUTE: Launching a drive against illegal food carts, the Saligao panchayat recently seized nine carts from around the church and other spots.
Sarpanch Lucas Remedios said that the action was initiated after the panchayat recently took a decision to remove all the roadside stalls which were operating without valid permissions.
“We issued notices to all the owners to remove the stalls within 15 days, if not the panchayat will seize them. Now, the owners can claim their stalls by paying a fine of Rs 5,000. If they fail to claim the stalls within eight days, we will auction them,” Remedios said.
“The stalls act as a nuisance as they block the view of the motorists. We had no other alternative but to seize the stalls,” he said.
The sarpanch said a similar action was initiated in the past and the panchayat had removed the stalls and the owners were warned not to park the stalls on the roadside. He said in spite of the warning the owners continued to retain the stalls on the roadside.
The carts were removed after the panchayat formed an anti-encroachment team and along with police protection removed the nine stalls.
