Times of India | 2 months ago | 31-08-2022 | 02:40 am
Canacona: Despite huge sums being spent to set up a state-sponsored Swayampurna Chaturthi Bazaar at Chaudi in Canacona, it is the roadside markets that sprouted up selling matoli items that did brisk business this season.Most of those who sell their wares along the roadside belong to the local indigenous community and are said to have a regular clientele. Ironically, some were sitting out in the open, just about eight metres away from the bazaar itself while others occupied specific pockets along the highway and village roads in Canacona. This, however, impacted sales at the bazaar, which was inaugurated with great fanfare eight days ago by speaker Ramesh Tawadkar. Many of the stalls were empty and those participating in the bazaar said there was a lack of buyers or even visitors. Even on Tuesday, a day before Ganesh Chaturthi, most of the sellers had hardly sold any of their wares.‘Some buyers who were coming with the intention of shopping at the bazaar, ended up making purchases from these roadside vendors, leaving us helpless,’ one participant at the bazaar said. “There was enough space/plots available inside the pandal,” the woman added.Interestingly, the authorities seem to have turned a blind eye to the situation and many say they didn’t even make an effort to encourage the roadside vendors to be a part of the bazaar, despite there being no fee for participation.
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