VASCO: Mormugao Municipal Council Vice Chairperson Tara Kerkar has slammed Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida for not taking up market projects on a priority basis.
Kerkar also accused all former market committee chairpersons of neglecting the issue of encroachment by vendors on footpaths.
She was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an anti-encroachment drive launched by MMC to clear several footpaths and roads, which were encroached upon by shopkeepers and vegetable and fruit vendors in Vasco on Tuesday.
“Such encroachment issues would have been completely resolved if our MLA, Carlos Almeida had taken up construction of market projects on priority. Also, as a local municipal body, we can only request the MLA. We did this in the past but the results are yet to be seen,” Kerkar charged.
Commenting on the disorder at the existing markets, she said, “I am categorically making this statement that all former market committee chairpersons of MMC have neglected the issue of encroachments by vendors and they should be held responsible for this menace due to which the market is in a total mess today. Also our own municipal staff is hand in glove with the encroachers and the menace is increasing day by day.”
Meanwhile, the Sopo contractor for the MMC, Caridad Pereira who is also the president of the fish vendors association, Vasco, has in turn accused the council for not taking action against fish vendors carrying out their business illegally in areas around the city. As a result, the number of people visiting the fish market has reduced and fish vendors are facing a loss. “Despite making several pleas to the municipality asking them to stop the ‘Lamanis’ from selling fish by the roadside, the council has taken no action. The last resort would be to come out on to the street in protest. Maybe then the municipality will act,” Pereira warned.
