Mapusa Sub yard in bad state

With the introduction of the Mapusa Municipal market, the needs of Mapusa sub yard have been neglected over the years.  The Mapusa sub yard was built 28 years ago. Presently, the shops here have developed huge cracks. The condition is so worse that these buildings can collapse anytime, if no serious action is taken.

Huge pieces of the ceiling have already started peeling off causing threat to both the vendors as well as the customers. The Mapusa sub yard is one of the biggest market yards in the state where more than 130 vendors carry out trade on a daily basis.

Speaking to one of the senior shopkeeper, Ullas Narvekar, 60, said “Now it’s almost more than 30 years. I have been selling fruits and vegetables here, but till now there’s no proper improvement measured. The main problem over here is the road access. Our trucks are stopped at the highway as there’s a lot of traffic congestion and that leads to delay in supply of goods in this area.”

“In the next few years, our chairman Ulhas Asnodkar will change the face of this sub yard for the better.” assured Narvekar.

Many vendors felt the need that there should be a public tap and the street lights should also be well maintained. They were also disappointed as the rent keeps increasing after every 3 years.

“I’m here from the past 15 years, there’s no proper water supply and the street lights often fluctuate. From the past several years I have been complaining but no action has been taken as yet. Another problem over here is our rent, which increases 10% per 3 years. In other places like Kolhapur, Belgaum, if a person uses a particular place for 55 months the place belongs to that person. But over here, despite using this place for more than a decade now, we still have to pay the rent, which keeps increasing after regular intervals.” said a source.

The security incharge too felt the need of developing a separate road, as presently no other road is connected to the yard other than the one from the KTC bus stand.

Arun Sawant, 50, security incharge said, “The actual need of the hour is to build a main road in this area. We lack the road access; this delays the process of loading and unloading goods in this area. And when there’s a delay, it effects are business in the long run.”

According to Caroline Almeida, 50, a housewife from Duler said, “I feel the concerned authorities should clear the garbage on a regular basis. Last year when I visited this place in the monsoons, the drainage pipes were over flowing which caused a mess in few shops, of this yard. But as compared to the previous year, I would say this year the condition far better.”