Team Herald
PONDA: Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) chairperson Anand Naik has advised residents to secure their valuables during the Ganesh Chaturthi as thieves strike during the festival.
Naik said that many people leave for their native places for the festival, but they should not keep valuables in closed flats or houses.
He said that during festival, people time should carry their gold with them and due to limited strength police cannot reach every place to stand on guard.
The chairperson cited a recent example in his ward where gold was stolen from a house when a woman had left for her native place at Karwar. Another house was broken open at Sapna Park recently.
He informed that the Chaturthi Bazaar will be held on Ponda Market’s main road from September 4, with traffic diversions in place. Naik said that the traffic proceeding from the main road will be diverted and a special meeting in this regard will be held with traffic police personnel to regulate traffic during bazaar at the market.
He disclosed PMC’s plans to install CCTV in the market complex and later across the town through government funds.
He said eight roadside shop owners will be rehabilitated, six in Indira Market and two in the new market complex, as per a High Court order.
He said that some shop owners are opposed to allowing an exhibition-cum-sale in the town area during Chaturthi as they claim it affects their business.
Naik said that permission has already been granted, but the Council would discuss the issue at its next meeting.
If local businessmen want space to conduct exhibitions, he said that PMC will provide space for them on its land.