Special offer for physically challenged at Saptah : Goa

From a plastic-free festival to the allotment of stalls at concessional rates for the physically challenged persons to sell their handicrafts, various changes are expected to be implemented at this year’s Vasco Saptah.

Confirming this, Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chief Officer Y B Tavde said this year the council would allot only three stalls per person for the Vasco Lord Damodar Saptah and no stall owner will be allowed to sublet stalls during the seven-day fair.

“All stall owners will be given an identity card and it should be displayed at all times. Each person will be allotted three stalls and those found sub-letting stalls, their permission will be cancelled and the stall will be allotted to another party,” Tavde told Herald.

“The size of the stall will be 2x2 square metres and the maximum permitted height of the stall is 3 metres. This year, stalls like garments, food, plastic and toys stalls will be allotted in separate zones,” he informed.

He further informed that the total number of stalls will be 1,617 and access will be provided after every 5 metres for pedestrians and residents to move freely in the area.

“It will be a plastic-free Saptah festival and all the ring roads and junctions will be free of business activities, in order to provide easy access for emergency services. MMC has also allotted stalls at concessional rate for physically challenged persons and special students of Asha Deep School at Headland Sada to sell their handicrafts,” he added.

“This year, MMC will promote stalls selling paper and cloth bags to minimise plastic menace in the port town. We will not allow any stalls in front of the Vasco Civil and Criminal Court and near the electricity complaint office next to the court,” said Tavde.

“We will also deploy police force to keep vigil on mushrooming of illegal stalls and for this we will pay Goa police Rs 40,000,” informed Tavde.

Tavde said a meeting of all the stakeholders has been convened at the MMC library hall on Monday at 3.30 pm to chalk out details of the Saptah fair.

 

City councillor and Vasco Planning and Development Authority Chairman Krishna Salkar said he has strongly objected to allot the same space to the same person every year.

“It’s high time we try to decongest the city during Saptah festival, as it creates a lot of problem to the residents of Vasco residing around the Lord Damodar Temple,” said Salkar.

 

Mormugao Municipal Council chief officer said that this year, the council would promote stalls selling paper and cloth bags to minimise plastic menace in the port town.

 

 

Source : GOa.COm , 19th July 2013