Tension is brew ing among traditional flow er and vegetable vendors in Margao after several of them received eviction no tices from the Margao Mu nicipal Council (MMC). A group of women ven dors gathered outside the office of Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, appealing for his intervention to safeguard their vending spaces and protect their livelihoods. The vendors, many of whom have been selling flowers and vegetables for decades, claimed they were being unfairly targeted. “We have been here for generations. Selling flowers is our only source of income. We are not encroachers — we are part of this city’s tradition,” said one of the women vendors. The group maintained that their busi nesses have always operat ed peacefully, yet they were being asked to vacate with out any rehabilitation plan. The vendors further al leged that while they were being served eviction no tices, illegal hawkers and outsiders continued to op erate freely across Margao without facing any action. “We are being singled out, even though we follow the rules. Others who have no local ties are allowed to do business openly,” another vendor lamented. Reacting to the matter, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai accused the civic body of double standards and se lective enforcement. “It is shameful that our own people are being har assed while outsiders are be ing given a free hand to run illegal businesses in Margao,” Sardesai told reporters. He pointed out that the traditional vendors — most of whom belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) com munity — have been an inte gral part of Margao’s identity. “This market earned its reputation because of Goan vendors. Nearly 99 percent of them are locals from the ST community who have been selling flowers and veg etables near Pimpalkatta for years. Instead of supporting them, the authorities are try ing to displace them,” he said. Sardesai also criticised the MMC for failing to take action against illegal mar kets and the so-called ‘chor bazaar’, while focusing in stead on small, tradition al sellers. “The council’s priorities are misplaced. If the harassment of local vendors continues, we will not hesitate to agitate,” he warned. Margao MLA Digambar Kamat clarified that no lo cal flower or vegetable ven dors will be evicted until suitable alternate arrange ments are made. “Vendors near Damodar Temple and women sellers near the Police Headquarters will not be disturbed until new vending zones are ready,” he assured.
Tension in Margao as Traditional Flower and Vegetable Vendors Face Eviction Notices
