NT Reporter
Vasco
Around 300 shopkeepers in Vasco kept their establishments closed for the
first half of Friday in solidarity with the 150-odd vendors whose shops were gutted in a fire at the Sunday Market around midnight on Thursday.
The shopkeepers said they stood by the affected vendors and had decided to contribute towards helping them recover from their losses, according to their individual capacities.
They urged the government to expedite the compensation and rehabilitation process and ensure that the affected vendors were provided shops at the same location where they had been conducting business for several years.
The market association also raised concerns over non-functional fire hydrants in the market area.
“We will take up the matter with the municipality and the government to ensure that the hydrants are restored at the earliest.This will ensure firefighters have access to adequate water in the event of another emergency,” the association said.
Meanwhile, Vasco MLA Krishna ‘Daji’ Salkar offered prayers at the Lord Damodar temple along with shopkeepers.
Salkar said Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane had already moved the necessary files and that PWD Minister Digambar Kamat would inspect the site on Saturday.
He said efforts were being made to start reconstruction work by November 1.
