Team Herald

MAPUSA: Two Mapusa Municipal councillors have objected to the proposal of erecting roof over the streets at the renovated municipal market and construction of central plaza in place of Shakuntala statue.

In a memorandum submitted to Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza, councillors Tushar Tople and Vibha Salgaonkar said covering of market with roofing would give factory like appearance to the market and the basic character of the historical Mapusa market would be lost.

They said that roofing over streets would block natural light and ventilation and could also lead to fire hazard. The councilors also stated that the type of proposed roofing would be difficult to maintain and would become an eyesore to the public and tourists visiting the market.

The second objection the councilors stated is tempering with the mascot of the market that is ‘Shakuntala statue’ and proposing to construct a central plaza in place of the statue. “This statue is the land mark of the market and Mapsekars have sentiments towards it,” the memorandum reads as.

The councillors have demanded that these two proposals be dropped from the renovation plan of the municipal market.