Team Goemkarponn
MORMUGAO: In the aftermath of the devastating fire at the New Model Municipal Market in Vasco, the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) is planning to introduce a comprehensive fire insurance scheme covering all markets under its jurisdiction, with traders expected to contribute towards the premium through flexible payment options, including daily instalments.
MMC Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik said he had already moved a note proposing the scheme, which aims to provide financial protection to traders against fire-related losses without placing the entire burden of compensation on the public exchequer.
Naik said the council was already providing comprehensive fire insurance coverage for festivals such as Saptah and now intended to extend a similar arrangement to municipal markets.
He said every trader would be encouraged to contribute towards the insurance premium and could even make daily payments, similar to a savings arrangement, ensuring financial security in the event of an unfortunate incident.
The proposed scheme would cover all markets under the MMC, including the Sunday market and the vegetable and fruit markets.
Naik expressed hope that vendors would cooperate with the initiative, stressing that the objective was to ensure that fire-related losses did not have to be borne entirely by public funds.
Meanwhile, the MMC will continue functioning on Saturday and Sunday, with staff directed to report for duty to facilitate the verification and scrutiny of compensation claims submitted by traders affected by the Vasco market fire.
Naik said the council was cross-checking the claims against its official database to establish the identity and status of the applicants.
According to MMC records, the market has around 133 hawkers and 16 shops. However, the council has received 107 compensation claims so far.
To streamline the verification process, the MMC has divided the claimants into two categories — allottees and present occupiers.
Naik said some claimants had reported losses amounting to Rs 65 lakh, while others had claimed Rs 50 lakh. The council is examining the claims to establish the actual extent of losses and verify the supporting details.
Claimants have also been informed about the documents they need to submit for the scrutiny process.
The verification exercise is aimed at establishing the actual occupancy and business details of each claimant before the council proceeds with the processing of compensation claims.
