TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) on Tuesday had to forcibly shift some vendors from the Upper Bazar Ponda to complete the civil works of the new market complex, which is nearing completion.
According to sources, PMC had informed the vendors of the proposed plan to temporarily shift them to the basement of the new market complex on which they had agreed.
However, when time came they refused to shift and had to be forced to do so. About 12 vendors, operating from the backyard of the new market complex, have been shifted and the remaining will be shifted on Wednesday.
The vendors called the eviction as forceful and claimed PMC did not issue any notice to shift them to the basement.
When contacted, PMC Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes maintained the vendors were informed in advance and they had agreed to it.
“Issuing of notices does not arise as the vendors are not permanent occupants of the market. Vendors come in the morning and after business hours they return. They are charged sopo fees on daily basis. We have already informed them to temporarily shift to the basement and once the project is completed we will try to give them a better place,” said Fernandes.
