CCP CONFISCATES ILLEGAL HANDCARTS
The CCP has no teeth to deal with the illegalities of handcarts in the city. This is a known fact. Miramar area have number of handcarts on the footpaths between Miramar to Dona Paula roadside ( attached photograph) and many motorists are seen parking all along this stretch of road to eat pani-puri, pao baji and bhel puri etc from these gaddas thus making inconvenient to the motorists to drive on this road. There has been number of complaints from the activists and citizen of Panjim to deal with such illegalities but the previous Government failed to take action. Now, that the CCP Mayor Surendra Furtado has come with an ultimatum that all illegal handcarts will be confiscated published on 24th March 2017 in one of the section of press. His instructions to his Commissioner Dipak Desai to get into the act, is appreciated. Another issue is that FDA has told me recently that these legal handcarts are been permitted by CCP and not FDA, and they are only looking upon the food adulteration and that a training programme is conducted periodically to maintain hygienic conditions of the food. It sounds good but whether the FDA is capable of monitoring these handcarts throughout the day as the food gets stale after a certain period of time as no fridges are seen on the handcarts. Will the new Parrikar Government look into this citizen problem and order that these handcarts are scrutinized and to recheck for any discrepancies of licences issued by previous management. A joint cell consisting of CCP, Health Services and FDA officers should conduct surprise inspections so as to monitor their legality and hygienic conditions. Confiscating illegal handcarts will not solve the problem as the legal ones; will continue to be there on the footpaths unless Government of Parrikar takes up the matter. Handcarts having permission from CCP& FDA should be given guidelines such as area of operation, identity of the owner with address proof and number of staff working on the handcarts etc. The health department should also get involved as it is seen specially the flies which can cause water borne diseases and hovering around these handcarts. Also the reuse of water for washing utensils needs to check.. The senior citizens are complaining that they are been deprived of their daily walk on these footpaths. Stephen Dias Dona Paula Date: 24 March 2017 Mob: 9422443110.
