Dona Paula hawkers

PANJIM: The 64-odd hawkers, who occupy the Dona Paula jetty, have sought time from the High Court to file an application or writ petition to ensure that the City Corporation of Panaji doesn't remove them from the spot without rehabilitating them.



It must be recalled that the High Court of Bombay at Goa has taken suo moto cognizance of an anonymous letter written by a "concerned citizen" pertaining to encroachments on the pathway at Dona Paula Jetty and converted the letter into Public Interest Litigation. The letter was send on October 10, 2007



In the letter, "the concerned citizen" said that though it was submitted in the High Court in 1993 that the stall owners, hawkers would shift from the jetty to a place near NIO junction, they continue to encroach upon the pavements to the jetty thereby causing inconvenience to the public and making it difficult for the tourists to visit the place.



The letter further states that in the year 1993 the Panjim Municipal Council (now CCP) had issued notice to the hawkers, stall owners occupying the Dona Paula jetty pursuant to the direction given by the Tourism Department to vacate.



Aggrieved by the notice, one Nazareth Cabral, had approached the High Court, challenging the action of the authorities and the petition was disposed once an agreement was arrived upon between all concerned parties. According to the agreement, an alternate arrangement was to be made for the stall owners and hawkers, which cost about Rs 50 lakh, near NIO junction.



The letter informed that till date the concerned authorities have made no such arrangements and therefore the "concerned citizen" has written to the High Court.



Further, the letter also draws the Court's notice to the fact that a lot of garbage is accumulated due to the functioning of the stall owners and hawkers, which has made the area prone to rat infections. This is allegedly due to the food and drinks that is served to the tourist.



However, senior counsel Surendra Dessai appearing on behalf of the hawkers said that they shouldn't be removed without being rehabilitated. The rehabilitation has been stalled due a writ petition pending in the High Court.



The matter will come up for hearing next week.