Mapusa market reopens

Mapusa: Officials of Mapusa Municipal Council besides officer bearers of Mapusa Merchant Association (MMA) were on their toes on Monday at the municipal market to ensure that the guidelines were strictly followed.

Finally, after a gap of over 40 days, 50 per cent of shops in Mapusa municipal market opened for general public on Monday.

Initially little chaos was witnessed at the market as a large number of hawkers also turned up hoping that they would be allowed to also start their operation.

Even few shops opened in the restricted area of the market but  were not allowed to operate, and  later closed down by a team comprising chairperson Ryan Braganza, municipal engineer Hussein Shah Muzwar, councillors Franky Carvalho and Sandip Falari besides municipal inspectors and other staffers.

Members of MMA led by Ashish Shirodkar were seen creating awareness among the traders and others on the guidelines to be followed. 

Mapusa MLA Joshua D’souza also visited the market to see the arrangement put in place.

Sticking to its decision, all the hawkers who were getting ready to begin operation in the market were refused to commence operation in the market by the municipality.

Later, only traditional vendors  dealing  in chilies, local rice and other locally-grown items were allowed to conduct business in the parking area.

Despite of clear directions by the MMC to keep footpaths encroachment-free, few put up their goods on display.

A team of officials led by municipal market inspector Narsinha Ratwad and comprising supervisors undertook a drive and removed the encroachments and confiscated the goods.

In a bid to control the traffic movement, the municipality had blocked around 11 entry points to the market, and as a result people parked their vehicles in a haphazard manner at these points.

Commenting on the first day of market opening, president of Mapusa Merchant association Ashish Shirodkar said that “first day was good as things were under control as we had planned, which was possible due to the co-operation of Mapusa MLA, municipality and merchants.”

“We have ensured that guidelines are followed in the market and those merchants who violated the guidelines action was taken against them like confiscation of goods which were on display. Shopkeepers were happy that they received customers,” said Shirodkar.

Chairperson Ryan Braganza expressed satisfaction over market reopening and further said that “ we hope that  things continue to go as we have planned. Initially there were some issues but then things were put in place in co-ordination with MMA.”

“If council and MMA continue to coordinate in a similar manner then both together can put lot of things in place,” added Braganza