Vendors break encroachment rules as Municipal inspectors look the other way

Pratik Parab

pratik@herald-goa.com

The Margao Market is presently overflowing with goods for the upcoming rainy season. Several vendors, who are selling plastic covers, clothes, raincoats and other goods have encroached on to the footpaths of the Sadekar lane, Ropachaal and new Market areas. This has been causing lot of hindrance and nuisance for vehicles and also for pedestrians who are forced to walk on the vehicular road. As the situation has been getting from bad to worse the picture above is an example of how the municipal employees who are responsible to keep these encroachments at bay are themselves protecting them by systematically choosing to ignore it.

People from the entire Salcete have been descending down on Margao to purchase various goods in preparation for the rainy season. People are seen buying plastic covers, nylon ropes, shoes, raincoats and several other important goods. Eyeing this upbeat in the market the shops and vendors at the market have violated rules and regulations and have kept their goods for sale on the footpaths blocking most of the walkway of the pedestrians.

 Like a yearly exercise Babu stores has occupied the entire footpath to display their goods. The road opposite Bombay Cafe has literally become an open air shoppee where the shops have occupied the footpaths on both sides. Even after seeing the plight of the people, who are forced to walk on the roads because of the blocked footpaths, the MMC workers are only doing the job of a bystander rather than keeping the footpaths free of encroachments.

In the places of encroachments the MMC workers are often seen demanding tea from the violators and enjoying their presence standing on the jammed footpaths. These MMC workers come under the MMC Market Inspectors and are only seen working during the anti-encroachment drives in the town. Other than wearing the uniform of the MMC and sipping the tea provided by the shopkeepers these workers have no other work to do. There is a demand from people that an inquiry be initiated against these MMC workers who are ignoring these encroachments.

The Ropachaal is also being ignored by the MMC nowadays. Several people travel from the Ropachaal. The new Market is opposite to the Ropachaal and the people have to take this road to reach towards the Municipality. The Ropachaal is entirely occupied nowadays which is forcing the people to walk on the road. Local fruit sellers, craft jewellery, clothing and other hawkers are continuously occupying the footpath. To add to the woes, the local shopkeepers are also keeping their goods outside on the footpath and occupying the little remaining space. Two wheelers of shopkeepers, generators and other goods of the shop are kept on the footpath which raises a question. Where are the people coming to shop in the market supposed to find a place to walk?

“The MMC has appointed workers who are assigned the task of keeping a check and clear the encroachments in the market. But it looks like these workers are being paid to take a stroll in the market and to turn a blind eye to these encroachments and violations,” said Raju Virdikar of the Shiv Sena.

“It has been months since the MMC took up anti-encroachment drives. The shopkeepers, who violate the rule, are informed about the drive even before the MMC authorities leave the office. The shopkeepers keep their goods inside for a while during inspection but then go back to their old ways after the inspectors leave. There is an urgent need to find out who leaks the information about the inspection to the shopkeepers and deal with the persons seriously,” demanded Raju Virdikar.

While speaking to Herald, Margao Municipal Council Chief Officer Yashwant Tawde told that they have scheduled a drive in this month.