VALPOI WEEKLY MARKET FULL OF CHAOS AUTHORITY PAY NO HEEDS by Abdulla Khan

VALPOI: The Tuesday weekly market day or simply “Munglaracho Bazaar” at Valpoi is a hub of purchase and sells in Satari Taluka. The centrally located market has always been the market for village produce and flourishes with “gaunti Vegetables”or locally grown vegetables and fruits. Now, it has become the outlet of product from all over Goa.

Vendors with their products on the road connecting

Massordem which becomes inaccessible even for emergency

Vendors from all over state display their products at Tuesday market and people from both near and far villages visits Valpoi for their purchases as well for selling item for consumption.

In the past, when transport was not as freely available as it is today, people walked that time to take their goods to Valpoi market. But, scenario has changed and buses ply every half an hour in all corners of Satari and consumers clicked at weekly market to purchase the things.

However, due to facility of transport today and people in large numbers having their own vehicles, and the proliferation of shops, the market day has lost its past significance.

Buses halt longer at Valpoi and on Tuesdays cause
worst congestion (market day) - pic Abdulla Khan

Since Valpoi town is inadequate with bus stand facility there is chaos during peak hours on Tuesday. Market flourished at Massordem road which blocked the traffic and pedestrian movement on the bazaar day. Even the space has been occupied by the vendors where people are to park their two-wheeler. Sometimes the cloth vendors parked their vehicle on the road towards Fatima convent which was already used by the high profile people for parking their buses and private vehicle. Buses take a long halt creating traffic congestion. The rickshaw stand is an additional hindrance for smooth flow of traffic.



Speaking to the Police Inspector, Mr Shivram Vainganker it is learnt that the municipal authority has not allotted space for two-wheeler and four wheeler parking. He said, “To control this critical situation almost five constables are deployed and we are running short of police personal”. He further told that even after that it is difficult to manage and control the circumstances. He further pointed that church ground is best place to accommodate and said “VMC must asked permission from the church authority whereby the traffic for only weekly market day can be diverted on the ground. Unavailability of parking zones and no parking zones makes condition worse for the traffic police.

Meanwhile, vice-Chairperson Ms Fahmida Khan affirmed that traffic congestion is the main problem and the council member has taken the issue on priority basis. She said, “We will speak to the church authority and sort out the problem.

Open fish market with no basic amenities like water tap and dustbins greets the people on bazaar day. Fish is a major item of purchase and the focus of a lot of discussion. Fisherwoman prefers to occupy road for selling their fish and left out waste is kept lying on the road at the end of the day and never thought about smell and flies rooming round the nose. When asked to fish vendors to occupy the old market buildings constructed for the purpose, they blissfully said, “who will wash it after the day over and there is no water supply and drainage for the waste water”. Old fish marhket building is mostly occupied by dried fish vendors who come in the town on Tuesday.

Absence of Vegetable Market makes them sell their products
outside the old market complex - PIC Abdulla Khan

Valpoi municipal has boasted of reconstructing the market complex but still there is no ray hope. The lane opposite Pokle house has been taken over by fruit sellers who shout at the top of their voice. The lane near Dr. Dalal dispensary blocked by the cloth shops and at the entrance near the junction electronic items and colorful bed sheets welcomed the people for Tuesday market. Further near the fish market elderly women’s display seeds of local plant and vegetable.

The Vegetable section of the market which was constructed behind Goa State Bank left abandoned. Today the market is congested. Inside the Vegetable market and beyond, there is chaos. Again, the indiscriminate setting up of stalls has congested the once wide lane which is recently hot mixed. VMC, Chairperson, Umesh Gulelkar told this daily that on his visit after being elected found that most of vendors are occupying more space thus giving an impression of chaotic mess. He informed that around 120 vendors are listed out and for each vendor we will allot just 2mx2m of space to put up their stalls. He said, “vendors are occupying the Massordem road thus creating blocked to the traffic we will make them to occupy the space over the concrete slabs put on the drainage which will solve the problem”. He further said that due to deficient concrete slabs the drainage could not be covered and soon after the covering the drainage it will be implemented. This will suppose to alleviate both the buyers and sellers woes.

Unfortunately, due to structural problems inherent in the building, and the increase in both the sellers and buyers of the situation is now worse. Due to increase in population, expansion was inevitable. But rather than being of help, it has increased the problems. It’s a challenge to Valpoi municipal council and the M.L.A to sought these essential problem faced by the Valpoikars.