The Times of India 26.07.2012
‘BMC’s Bandra fair policy unfair’
MUMBAI: The face of Bandra fair is all set to change with the BMC framing new policy, following Bombay high court directions.
According to the new policy, number of stalls during the fair, to be held in September, will reduce and those around the Mount Mary Church will be auctioned off to outsiders, say stall owners. However, some locals rue that the fair will lose charm if number of stalls are reduced as it will prevent vendors from selling authentic community food items. Advocate Shane Cardoz, a Bandra resident, said that during the fair, since time immemorial, many vendors sell traditional home-made dishes like vindaloo, sorpotel, fuggias, guava cheese, sausages, omelettes, kadio bodio (a Goan delicacy), mawa pedhas and halwas from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Delhi.
"The stalls on the Bascillica steps have been reduced to 40 from 80. This will dilute the tradition," said Cardoz. According to the draft policy's clause 8, of the 280 pitches, first 20 pitches, near the church, will be auctioned before the fair.
"Owners do not want auctioning. Locals are not comfortable with stalls only on one side of the road. The BMC is trying to stop the fair. It also wants to reduce the candle and food stalls from 500 to 200," said Moses Miranda, a stall owner.
Daphne Warapen, chairperson of Ambedkar Road ALM, said the fair should be extended up to Chapel Road near St Anthony's Old Age Home. "Stall owners earn Rs 3,000 per day on an average during the eight-day fair. They do not have the financial stability to bid at an auction," said Warapen.
According to the new policy, number of stalls during the fair, to be held in September, will reduce and those around the Mount Mary Church will be auctioned off to outsiders, say stall owners. However, some locals rue that the fair will lose charm if number of stalls are reduced as it will prevent vendors from selling authentic community food items. Advocate Shane Cardoz, a Bandra resident, said that during the fair, since time immemorial, many vendors sell traditional home-made dishes like vindaloo, sorpotel, fuggias, guava cheese, sausages, omelettes, kadio bodio (a Goan delicacy), mawa pedhas and halwas from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Delhi.
"The stalls on the Bascillica steps have been reduced to 40 from 80. This will dilute the tradition," said Cardoz. According to the draft policy's clause 8, of the 280 pitches, first 20 pitches, near the church, will be auctioned before the fair.
"Owners do not want auctioning. Locals are not comfortable with stalls only on one side of the road. The BMC is trying to stop the fair. It also wants to reduce the candle and food stalls from 500 to 200," said Moses Miranda, a stall owner.
Daphne Warapen, chairperson of Ambedkar Road ALM, said the fair should be extended up to Chapel Road near St Anthony's Old Age Home. "Stall owners earn Rs 3,000 per day on an average during the eight-day fair. They do not have the financial stability to bid at an auction," said Warapen.
Petitioners Lilian Paes and H(west) Citizens Trust had moved court against use of Rebello Road playground and to reduce the number of stalls. Their advocate Pooja Thorat said the BMC had instead increased stalls. "There were 165 stalls as of 2010. In 2012, there were 430. Now, they have added 300 more."
