NT NETWORK
Margao
Residents of Margao, on Thursday, questioned Margao Municipality as to why the civic body was targeting the local vendors selling their locally grown vegetables and fruits along roadsides in and around Margao, and “why action is not being taken against others misusing the footpaths and occupying the road shoulders to carry out
the business.”
“I saw MMC workers threatening the local vendors and evicting them from the roadside near Ravindra Bhavan today. I supported these locals and called up the chairperson of MMC Pooja Naik and told her that during these times of COVID we have to help the locals who struggle for their living. She agreed and directed the MMC’s concerned employees not to evict them,” said
Jose Miranda.
The residents alleged that the MMC, however, ignores the people who actually create obstruction with their roadside business, and simply targets
the locals.
They said that they will meet the chief officer of MMC and explain the difficulties of these vendors.
“MMC workers came here and told us to pack up the vegetables and go away from the place. We come from the remote areas with the local vegetables and seasonal fruits. We hardly stay for an hour or two. We also provide the opportunity to the people of Margao to purchase good vegetables and fruits. MMC is driving us away. We have no other work. We depend on this to feed our families,” said one of the vendors from Balli-Quepem.
With the government miserably failing to provide separate marketing avenues to these local vendors and the civic body being after them, the local vendors face tough times in selling
their products.
They come to the town with the hope of getting customers, but often face threats of eviction.
