NT NETWORK
MAPUSA
Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) on Monday served notice to owners of sixteen beef and pork stalls directing to vacate stalls within three days as the structure has turned unsafe. Following the spell of rains on Sunday night and due to ongoing work of main nullah at the rear side of the mutton and beef market, part of retaining wall has collapsed exposing the foundation of the building.
Chicken and mutton stall vendors have already shifted from the ground plus one floor dilapidated structure into the new fish and meat complex. However, the beef and pork stall owners refused to shift into the new premises on the grounds that it was not possible to run the stall from the first floor as huge load of meat needs to be transported everyday and that the size of stalls is small.
After hearing the grievance, MMC had allowed them to carry on their business from old building till a new alternate place is made available. MMC had proposed that after shifting all vendors, the said building would be demolished and parking space would be created but nothing has happened. Hence, the stall owners continue to do business from the old structure.
On September 1, the council had resolved to reconstruct the building by spending municipal funds with provision for 14 stalls. The structure was inspected by technical section which had declared it as unsafe and subsequently notices and show cause notices were issued to the stall owners over a period.
Some months back when the water resources department started the work of main nullah, a portion of complex which had encroached on the nullah was demolished which caused damage to dilapidated structure.
On providing alternate arrangement for the stall owners, MMC chief officer Clen Madeira said, “I have asked them to vacate the premises as we cannot take risk of losing any life. Then, they will be called for a meeting to decide on alternate arrangement.”