Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: In the wake of the devastating fire at Vasco’s Sunday Market, firecracker vendors have been directed to shift their Diwali stalls to the Dev Damodar Trust area behind the vegetable market, with authorities deciding against permitting fireworks sales anywhere within the Vasco open market area.
Vasco MLA Krishna Daji Salkar inspected the proposed site on Monday along with officials and other stakeholders to assess the arrangements and safety measures required for setting up Diwali shopping stalls.
The decision to relocate the vendors comes amid heightened safety concerns following the recent fire that gutted several shops at the Sunday Market.
Salkar said the fire tragedy had highlighted the need for stricter safety precautions, particularly while dealing with highly inflammable materials such as firecrackers. He said allowing fireworks sales close to the fire-affected market could create another serious safety risk, prompting the authorities to identify an alternative location.
He instructed the municipality and the electricity department to make necessary arrangements at the proposed site, including adequate lighting and other basic facilities for vendors.
He also directed the police and concerned government departments to ensure that no vendors conduct business on roads, streets or footpaths during the Diwali shopping period.
Salkar urged vendors to operate under a single-window system to ensure proper coordination, organised allocation of stalls and smooth business operations. He said the arrangements should facilitate festive shopping while ensuring free movement for pedestrians and emergency vehicles.
During the inspection, firecracker vendors requested that sellers dealing in other Diwali-related items, including traditional sweets and festive products, also be accommodated at the Dev Damodar Trust premises. They said having all categories of festive traders at one location would create a common marketplace, attract more customers and benefit vendors.
Vasco Fire Station Officer Dilip Picholkar cautioned that any new commercial activity near the fire-affected market carried risks and stressed the need for adequate fire safety measures.
He said vendors would have to obtain a Fire NOC, for which applications would first be submitted to the Deputy Collector before being forwarded to the Fire Department for necessary scrutiny.
Picholkar also urged vendors to maintain cleanliness at the proposed site and ensure that garbage did not accumulate in the area.
Mormugao Mamlatdar Pravinjay Pandit said illegal sale of firecrackers would not be permitted in Vasco. He urged the municipality and police to maintain strict enforcement and ensure that all necessary precautionary measures were followed.
The relocation is expected to provide a designated space for Diwali vendors while keeping potentially hazardous activities away from the fire-ravaged Sunday Market.
