SHOAIB SHAIK
shoaib@herald-goa.com
Owners of handcarts in the capital city believe that they add to the easy availability of facilities for the domestic and low end tourists, in addition those handcarts which serve food add to the night life of Panjim.
Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), over the last three months, has consistently been carrying out confiscation drive against the handcarts in the city. However, the handcarts owners want the municipal corporation to further facilitate their business and streamline the business for them.
A handcart owner near the Samrat Theatre said that his handcart has been doing business at the spot over the last 40 years. He said “I have a valid licence and I do not understand why the CCP constantly harasses us. The licence clearly states that this is the spot where I should put up my stall.”
Responding to the handcarts being permanently placed at the spot, the handcart owner said: “The licence does not mention anything about the timing. Nevertheless, now that the CCP wants to erect the handcart stall between certain timings only, we have started to adhere to the timing and take our handcarts back after finishing business.”
On the proposal of the CCP to make 18th June Road a handcart and hawker free zone, another handcart owner said that the corporation will take away the livelihood of a number of people dependent on the handcarts.
“People who come for the movies or are out during the night come here for food at reasonable prices. Instead of closing down, the government should facilitate our business, like other cities. While we are doing business we are also serving people. Apart from us, it will cause inconvenience to several of them”, he added.
