Sena tells non-Goan vendors in Mapusa market to pack off

Sena tells non-Goan vendors in Mapusa market to pack off
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
PORVORIM, MAY 11
Shiv Sena, Bardez, on Tuesday launched a drive against non-Goan vendors, who are selling their products in Mapusa market.
Shiv Sena members entered Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) market and directed non-Goan vendors to vacate the place. The members removed the goods of the vendors laid alongside the road in the municipal market and asked them to pack off.
It may be recalled that in April, the delegation of All Goa Merchants Federation and Mapusa Merchants Association had called on MMC Chairperson Roopa Bhakta and had threatened to launch agitation if the council failed to take action against the vendors and hawkers.
Taking cognizance of the demand of the merchants, MMC had removed hawkers and vendors who were sitting in the Mapusa market and confiscated their goods worth several lakhs of rupees.
The operation was carried out by MMC inspectors under the supervision of Bardez Deputy Collector and Acting Chief Officer of MMC Dasharath Redkar and MMC chief engineer Vishnu Naik.
As per the list prepared jointly by Mapusa Merchants Association and MMC, there are about 150 notified vendors. Since MMC did not take any action against vendors and hawkers, the number increased steadily over a period of time and presently about 700 vendors are doing business in the Mapusa market due to which the market has become congested.
Though MMC authorities had carried out the operation in April, it has been observed that non-Goan vendors and hawkers have started sitting again the market.
Speaking to media, Shiv Sena (Bardez) Vibhag Pramukh Philip D’Souza said Goan vendors should get the first priority in the market. However, it has been observed that non-Goans vendors are occupying the prime locations in the market and Goan vendors are forced to sit in the scorching sun.
“Further, due to these non-Goan vendors, the business of Mapusa merchants and Goan vendors has been affected badly. MMC has done nothing to control the onslaught to non-Goan vendors and it is for this reason we have taken up the drive against non-Goan vendors,” said D’Souza.