I wish to highlight the recent action taken by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), which removed tea and food stalls from the Patto roadside. While the authorities have cited compliance with a High Court order, the eviction was carried out abruptly and without any prior notice to the stall owners. Many of these vendors have been running their small businesses for the past 15 to 20 years, reportedly with valid municipal licences. For them, this trade is their only source of livelihood. The sudden removal has left them without income and in a state of uncertainty.
These kiosks also served an important public need. Travellers arriving at the Panaji bus stand, especially after long journeys, depended on these stalls for affordable food. If encroachment was indeed an issue, a more humane and practical approach should have been adopted. The authorities must consider relocating these vendors to a designated space rather than displacing them entirely. I urge the concerned authorities to take immediate steps to rehabilitate these small traders.
