ShwEta Kamat
This is not a new problem. The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has been facing the ire of shops and establishment owners along the 18th June road, Church Square and the Gracia de Orta garden for past few years over allotment of space for stalls during the annual fair held to celebrate the annual feast of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception on December 8.
It started a few years ago. An increasing number of stalls led to the fair area expanding into the 18th June Road thus blocking vehicular traffic on this busy street and public excess to the permanent shops and establishments along it. The civic body faced severe criticism and anger of the owners of these business establishments, forcing the corporation to pass a resolution in 2013 to shift the fair towards the Garcia De Orta garden.
“We had to go through very difficult times during the fair days. There was complete stoppage of traffic and no access to our shops. The business was completely down. We had to make several representations before our voice was finally heard two and half years back,” owner of a garment products shop R Patel told Herald.
“There was complete chaos on the street. Garbage menace, unhygienic conditions, parking problems and many other such things,” owner of a famous restaurant along the 18th June Road, requesting anonymity said.
There was also opposition from shops along the Church Square, forcing the fair vendors to occupy only one side of the square.
On an average over 100 stalls selling garments, toys, shoes, home décor items, traditional items, have come up on all four sides of the garden.
Shifting the fair didn’t solve the problem. It only relocated the problem; shop and establishment owners from the Garcia De Orta garden area are now complaining.
