Goemkarponn desk
MARGAO: For years now, one issue that has become a significant concern for the citizens is the encroachment of footpaths in the Margao city market area. The authorities have turned a blind eye to such illegalities.
Citizens reveal that the Margao municipality is not taking any action on encroachment done on footpath despite complaints.
Moreover, citizens say there is a special section to look into encroachments but to no avail.
The encroachment by vendors affects the pedestrians and creates traffic congestion as they have literally hijacked the road.
When the new chief officer Agnelo Frenadies took charge, he announced clearing the encroachments, but that statement remained only for media publicity, and nothing happened after that.
Again, when the new Chairperson started a drive to clear the road and footpath upon taking over charge of MMC, that too remained a one-day show-off.
A resident Sooraj Naik said he couldn’t understand what stopped the municipality from clearing the encroachment, which will solve the many problems.
“Many non-Goans are carrying out illegal business on streets blocking traffic. Every new officer or councillor takes charge and starts the drive, and in one day, they wind up the campaign, which looks like they start the drive to increase the haftas (kickback),” he said.
Miguel Niasso said that there is no free space left in the market, and Margao now even fish is sold at every corner, making traffic flow difficult.
“I can’t understand why the municipality is not taking action. Vote bank and personal revenue may be the main reason behind this,” Niasso stated.
When contacted, Santo Fernandes, MMC market inspector, said that there is a shortage of market inspectors out of five; three have retired.
“At present, we are only two inspectors. We had collected five thousand as a fine when we did a one-day encroachment drive. After that, we didn’t
get time to do the drive,” he says.
Lyndon Pereira chairperson Margao Municipality said their drive is on now. “Our target is to clear the wholesale fish market,” he said.
Day by day, the number of illegal hawkers and vendors doing business in and around the city is increasing, but the municipality is doing nothing.
A trend of new markets has started in the evening for clothes and vegetables now in the evening.
One feels that the MMC is either getting kickbacks from the hawkers and vendors or simply lacking the willpower to act against illegalities.
Sunil Naik, a resident says, there is immense pressure from city godfathers not to take action as these hawkers are their vote banks.
“I have been Listening about setting up a food court and vendors zone from the last five years, but nothing has been done to date,” he added.
Box
Rent-a-cab, Rent-a-bike
acquire parking space
While the encroachments on footpaths and streets is a major issue in Margao market, the parking of rent a cab cars and rent bike two-wheelers has become another headache for Madgaonkars.
The parking by rent-a-bike and rent-a-car acquires major space of parking.
Locals say that the rent-a-car and rent-a-bike has to operate from their office and make their own parking space.
“…but they are utilising major roadside space and have almost acquired the municipality parking,” locals said.
Councilor Mahesh Amonkar says he has asked the Chief officer and Chairperson to take action, but no action has been taken to date.