Business In India | "Hawkers eat into restaurants' business in Mapusa market"

By: TNN
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Category: Business In India

MAPUSA: Disappointed with the loss of business due to mobile hawkers selling tea and snacks, the Mapusa uphar graha owners association (MUGOA) has lodged a complaint with the Mapusa municipal council (MMC) and demanded action against these hawkers.

Around 36 restaurant owners submitted the complaint to the chairperson of the MMC, Sudhir Kandolkar, on Wednesday. In it, they stated that persons roaming with a kettle of tea and eatables in the Mapusa municipal area have had an adverse impact on their businesses.

The owners stated that because hawkers supply items like tea, coffee, samosa and bread to the fish, vegetable and fruit vendors in the area, they (the restauranteurs) lose clientele, thus causing heavy losses to them.

"The vendors are then reluctant to leave their place and enter out restaurants, or even order stuff from our establishments," says Santosh Belekar, who owns a restaurant in Mapusa. "Our items thus get wasted every day," he further lamented.

The hawkers aren't new to Mapusa, though. What's new is their increased number. "Earlier, they used to be a few, and went unnoticed; they didn't have much of an adverse effect on our business," said another restaurant owner. "Now, their number has increased sharply and they are eating into out business."

Another hotel owner, Raju Nanodkar, complained that "There is no check on these hawkers, due to which they roam freely all over town".

Members of the association that filed the complaint, have also threatened that if the council fails to take action against the hawkers, then they would do what it takes to control the menace.

"Earlier (a week ago), we had submitted a memorandum to the chief officer of the MMC, but nothing has been done. We should not be held responsible if we take the law into our own hands to evict these vendors for the survival of our business," Santosh Belekar said.

MMC chairperson Sudhir Kandolkar said that he would take up the issue with other council members in a council meeting and take necessary action.

When contacted, Salim Velji, director of food and drugs administration (FDA), said that there is no provision for allowing the selling of tea and foodstuff by mobile hawkers, and hence, there is no regulation.

"It may be a delivery system," Velji further said. "These boys must be attached to some hotels, the source could be the hotels and restaurants, and the boys could be delivery boys. If the sources of these eatables do not have valid licences, then they can be penalized."

He also said that the FDA is willing to take action on unlicensed vendors. "If there's a complant that these eatables are prepared at a place without licence, they should approach us, and we'll take action," he said.

Moving off on a different tangent, the FDA director then added, "If those are minor boys, then they can approach the police."

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Hawkers-eat-into-restaurants-business-in-Mapusa-market/articleshow/15966531.cms