MAPUSA
Concerned about a potential anti-encroachment drive in the municipal market, members of the Mapusa Merchants Association (MMA) on Friday appealed to civic authorities for leniency in allowing them to display goods outside their shops.
The merchants requested permission to use a portion of the pavement to display items, arguing that such arrangements are crucial for business.
“It will be difficult for us to do business if we are not allowed to display our goods outside our shutters,” said Shripad Sawant, President of the MMA, in an appeal submitted to Chief Officer Chandrakant Shetkar and Chairperson Nutan Bicholkar.
Sawant noted that, in the past, merchants and authorities had reached an agreement to permit a reasonable amount of space in front of shops and stalls for displaying goods.
The merchants raised their grievances during a meeting held at the Mapusa Municipal Council premises.
Their concerns followed reports that civic staff had recently instructed shopkeepers to clear goods displayed on footpaths to free up space for pedestrian movement.
MMA members pointed out that while shopkeepers were being targeted, certain vendors were occupying more space than permitted, obstructing the visibility of shops.
“The vendors are allowed to display their stock beyond permissible limits, thereby blocking the view of the shops,” said Siddesh Raut, Secretary of the MMA.
The association requested the authorities to consult with merchants before initiating any anti-encroachment actions.
Responding to the concerns, Chief Officer Shetkar assured the merchants that the municipal council would conduct a joint inspection on Monday.
A technical team will review the market area and submit a report, based on which further decisions will be taken.
“We will send a technical team to inspect the market area. The team will submit a report to the municipal council, after which we will take appropriate action,” Shetkar said.
