PONDA: Tension prevailed in the Ponda market since early Saturday morning, when hundreds of vendors blocked the road in a flash protest after accusing the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) of demolishing the wall of the old market building.
Blaming the PMC for attempting to block the main entry passage to the PMC market in order to prevent them from selling their wares in the passage, the vendors have now threatened to shut down the Ponda market during Ganesh Chaturthi festival if the harassment continues.
Suspecting that the demolition had taken place in the wee hours of Saturday, the vendors were surprised to find the wall demolished and blocking the main entry to the market.
Condemning the act, the vendors resorted to a flash road blockade agitation near the demolished wall. Some of the PMC councillors denied the council had demolished the wall and insisted it had collapsed on its own.
Rejecting the PMC’s claim, the vendors stated that they had “evidence” that the council had demolished the wall and they have lodged a police complaint in the matter, demanding arrest of those involved and seizure of the JCB which was engaged for the operation.
Speaking to media persons, leader of the vendors Kishore Mamlekar accused the PMC of harassing the vendors with each passing day. “Despite our unwillingness to do so, we will be forced to shut down the market during Ganesh Chaturthi festival.”
Mamlekar accused a councillor of taking the Sopo contract on behalf of the contractor.
“The councillor should stop harassing poor vendors who work hard till late in the market to eke out a livelihood. The Sopo issue can easily be solved if the council engages in talks with us,” said Mamlekar.
He claimed that the vendors withdrew their agitation following assurances from the Ponda police that they would not allow the PMC inspectors to harass the vendors. Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar met the agitating vendors and appealed to them to maintain peace in the market.
