Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Jul 15: Stall owners at the Dona Paula jetty have sought written assurances from the Goa government that temporary kiosks proposed as part of the redevelopment of the iconic tourist spot will eventually be replaced with permanent shops, saying the livelihoods of 76 vendors should not be left in uncertainty.

In a letter to the Deputy Director of Tourism, Infant Jesus Stall Owners' Association president Filomena Cabral urged the Tourism Department to officially communicate the government's policy on the redevelopment through a circular or notification.

The association, representing 76 local stall owners at the Dona Paula jetty, said several vendors, including widows, have been running their businesses at the location for decades and depend entirely on the jetty for their livelihood.

The vendors pointed out that the Dona Paula jetty was declared a "Hawker's Zone" by the Corporation of the City of Panaji through an Extraordinary Official Gazette notification in 2008. They said the notification was intended to safeguard the trade and business of hawkers operating in the area.

Seeking protection of their livelihoods, the association said stall owners should be taken into confidence before any redevelopment work begins. It called for transparency in the proposed modification plans and sought details of the arrangements being made for existing vendors.

The association expressed concern over the proposal to provide temporary kiosks during the redevelopment, insisting that the government should give a written commitment that these structures would later be replaced with permanent shops. It said the redevelopment plan should include a proper and organised rehabilitation arrangement for all existing vendors.

The letter stated that stall owners have repeatedly faced uncertainty over redevelopment proposals and alleged that earlier decisions had adversely affected their businesses. According to the association, vendors were removed from the jetty in 1993 but later resumed their business activities at the site.

The vendors also objected to access restrictions at the jetty, claiming that the installation of a gate has affected residents and villagers who traditionally visited the area for leisure and recreation.

The association further stated that the Tourism Department had entered into a Leave and Licence Agreement with Dona Paula Ventures Private Limited in 2008 for an initial period of 15 years, with a provision for renewal. It has sought clarification on how the proposed redevelopment will affect the existing stall owners.

Appealing for what it described as a "sympathetic gesture", the association urged the government to consult all 76 vendors before implementing any redevelopment decisions. It said the project should be carried out transparently while ensuring that those who have depended on the jetty for decades are not displaced or deprived of their livelihood.