Mapusa, Oct 26 (TOI): The Mapusa Merchants Association will close all shops in the Mapusa market on Friday for two hours and conduct verification of the vendors illegally encroaching in the market on Thursday.

A delegation of Mapusa merchants, led by its president Asish Shirodkar met Mapusa Municipal Council chairperson Ryan Braganza and apprised him of the situation.

Shirodkar said there is no discipline in Mapusa market as vendors are found encroaching and selling goods haphazardly. Shirodkar added that vendors still store their goods in public utility toilets in the market which is unacceptable.

“So we have decide to shut our shops from 9am to 11am and will conduct the verification of the vendors ourselves as we are not going to keep quiet,” Shirodkar said.

The merchants want a town vending committee constituted, vending zones identified, creation of parking space and promotion of traditional vendors. The merchants told Braganza that a designated market inspector should be kept in the market to keep a check on encroachments.

“We have our limitations and the council has been stuck with other works,” the chairperson said.