Team Herald
PANJIM: The sudden sealing of shops by Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) in the fish market in the city has not only put an end to their means of livelihood but has also left shopkeepers, traders and labour staring at a bleak future.
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Speaking to O Heraldo, Manna Bepari, President of Qureshi Meat Traders Association said, “The supply of meat has been badly affected as the shops are closed. There is a shortage of at least three to four tonnes of beef while three to four quintals of mutton and chicken on daily basis. This translates into a loss of Rs 7 to 8 lakh per day for us.”
“The closure of shops has broken the chain of supply and demand. We are unable to order from the suppliers in Karnataka. Even those who supply meat from Karnataka too have been affected as demand from the market has been reduced. We fear of losing our long time customers like hotels if our shops remain closed for a longer period of time. They are purchasing meat from other suppliers at a higher rate. We have also lost regular retail customers who are loyal to us,” he said.
“The corporation should have thought of it while taking a decision to seal the shops. We are not saying that we want to stay in the building which is unsafe. What we demand is that we should be rehabilitated as soon as possible. Around 300 labourers are dependent on the shops which have been sealed. The shop owners are paying them even though there is no work,” he said.
Bepari said most of the meat vendors are there in the market for generations and paying rent on time.
The CCP had on August 21, 2024, sealed the shops to facilitate its demolition as the building was declared unsafe last year and notices were served to the shop owners mostly selling meat asking them to vacate the premises.
