The land acquired for the permanent rehabilitation of displaced Margao gadda traders in 1997.
Photo Credits: The Goan
MARGAO
When the High Court cracked the whip against illegal gaddas along the roadsides across the state in 1997, the Margao Municipal Council proposed a permanent rehabilitation scheme for the city’s displaced gadda traders.
To take the proposal to its logical conclusion, the Margao Civic body acquired a prime piece of land near the Old Market Circle around 2008 to house the displaced gadda traders. A decade and a half down the line, the rehabilitation scheme is yet to take off, while the acquired property at the Old Market Roundabout has virtually turned into an eyesore, right at the city’s entrance and at the intersection of the road heading to the world-famous Colva beach.
This has only raised a question or two for the Margao Municipal City Fathers and the Babus, besides the powers that be, to answer – is the permanent rehabilitation scheme for the displaced gadda traders finally down and out, and have any measures been initiated by the Civic body towards the permanent rehabilitation of the displaced gadda traders?
This question assumes significance on two counts: One, the gadda menace has raised its ugly head at many places in the commercial capital again. Some of these kiosks have returned right to the roadsides in congested areas and junctions, on the plea that they possess the requisite permissions and will move out once the permanent rehabilitation becomes a reality.
That’s not all. While the gadda rehabilitation scheme has failed to take off to date, vending zones to rehabilitate gaddas have suddenly become the focal point in the commercial capital, raising questions about whether the Civic body has buried the permanent rehabilitation scheme in cold storage in favour of vending zones.
President of the Margao Gadda Traders Association, Prashant Naik, said the permanent gadda rehabilitation found no takers among the displaced gadda traders for the simple reason that traders expressed their reservations about not getting business if they are all rehabilitated at one place at the Old Market. “The land in question at the Old Market Circle was acquired for the gadda traders for their permanent rehabilitation. We want the Margao Municipal Council to take the traders into confidence before unveiling any rehabilitation scheme,” Prashant said.
Fears have been raised in certain quarters that the prime piece of land, measuring around 4000 square metres, may be utilised for another purpose with the participation of private players.
Former Margao Municipal Chairperson Savio Coutinho has cautioned the Margao Municipality not to confuse the permanent rehabilitation of the displaced gadda traders with the vending zone scheme. “We have come to know that the MMC has allotted a couple of gaddas at a vending zone. These vending zones are primarily meant for the rehabilitation of the street vendors. That’s not all. Before a vending zone is created, a process needs to be complied with,” Coutinho said.
He added, “As per the 1997 High Court order, the local bodies are mandated to come up with permanent rehabilitation for the displaced gadda owners. The land acquired for the implementation of the scheme has not been utilised for the purpose for which it was acquired. We hope the MMC will take the gadda traders into confidence and resolve the issue permanently.”
