Team Herald
MARGAO: Apparently softening her stand with regards to the tribals selling their seasonal fruits and vegetables by the roadside in the commercial capital, Margao Municipal Council (MMC) chairperson Babita Prabhudessai on Monday said that she would not evict them or stop their activity.
“As they are tribals, who come from a very poor background, several people asked me not to be harsh with them and hence we shall not evict them from the place where they are conducting their business,” she said.
Instead she disclosed that the vendors have agreed not to sell anything during the peak hours. “They will cover their goods and not sell anything from 12:45 pm to 1:45 pm so that there is no traffic congestion, which in any case, was my main concern,” Babita said.
It may be recalled that on October 9, following a complaint lodged by Vegetable, Readymade & Cloth Vendors Association, Babita had asked the market inspectors to work on shifts to ensure that all roadside vendors including the tribal community selling seasonal fruits and vegetables are evicted from the roadside.
Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik, who was not present when this decision was taken, had on October 11 issued an order directing the market inspectors and the staff to work in two shifts. Naik was unaware of the change in stance by the chairperson on Monday.
Meanwhile, the South Goa Tribals’ Association president Camilo Barretto urged the MMC chief to streamline the functioning of the recently commissioned “food court”, which he claimed is causing inconvenience to people, who usually park their vehicles there.
Pointing out that all the kiosk owners are migrants with only the lone traditional Goan being allotted a stall, Camilo sought to know as to how these kiosk beneficiaries were selected and demanded former Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai owes an explanation to the people.
