CURCHOREM: During the Sunday bazar at Curchorem once again some street vendors were seen occupying the passages of the buildings in the market area from Goa Urban Co-operative Bank premises to State Bank of India premises.
Recently, Curchorem-Cacora Municipal Council (CCMC) shifted all the street vendors in the municipal shed constructed especially for them in the GSUDA complex after taking a decision in this effect during the recently held council meeting to keep all the passages free for the movement of pedestrians as per the High Court order.
When asked whether the council has sent any notice to Curchorem Merchant Association (CMA) as decided during the council meeting held on December 30 last year to send notices directing to clear all the buildings passages from encroachments within 10 days otherwise council would initiate action as per High Court order, chairpersonf of CCMC Balkrishna (Pinty) Hodarkar said that he would give them one more opportunity by informally discussing the matter with them on Monday failing which he will take necessary action.
When contacted, CMA president Rocha Pereira said that it is council duty to keep a vigil. “I do not know who have allowed them. We are having a meeting with them on Monday and I will definitely bring to their notice,” said Pereira. Coming down strongly former councillor Manohar Naik said that he is completely against the harassment meted out to small vegetable vendors who spent whole day on the street to sell their products to make their livelihood by earning little amount per day. “If CCMC wants to take action as per High Court order then they must take it against every one and not selectively. They must keep all the passages free from encroachments every day and not only when they want and absolutely not selectively,” said Naik.
Demanding that Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) to constitute a committee of experts to conduct inspections of all the commercial buildings in Curchorem market and inform the citizens whether they kept parking lot and open spaces as per their approved plans by the TCP.
“DMA must take it seriously and find out whether the parking and open spaces are maintained as per their approved plans or converted as it is seen most of vehicles of the occupants of these buildings are parked on the public roads creating parking difficulties for the general public who are visiting the market for shopping,” demanded Naik and informed that even the land which was acquired to create parking lot near the public garden is used to construct new municipal administrative building.