Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Oct 22: Cloth merchants in Ponda are up in arms after the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) abruptly cut electricity to their shops, despite earlier assurances from the Chief Minister that vendors would not be relocated until rent agreements for a new market complex were finalized.

The move comes as tensions rise over the proposed shift from the aging, structurally unsafe market building to a newly constructed facility. While the PMC argues that the old building poses a collapse risk and action is needed for public safety, shopkeepers say they are still negotiating critical terms — particularly rental agreements — and need more time.

Vendors have condemned the electricity disconnection as an unjust disruption, calling it an aggressive tactic during ongoing talks. They’ve urged the authorities to restore power and honour the Chief Minister’s promise, warning that such measures only deepen mistrust in an already sensitive situation.