Bicholim: Roadside vendors at the Bicholim market faced severe hardship on Wednesday as heavy showers disrupted the weekly market. Vegetables and other goods were damaged after joints of polythene sheets put up as rain cover gave way, allowing water to pour directly onto the produce and leaving several vendors with spoiled stock and financial losses.Savita Patil, a vegetable vendor, said it becomes difficult to remain at the market during torrential rain and strong winds as the tarpaulin sheets lack a sturdy base to support the makeshift pandal.Another vendor, Hussain Shaikh, urged the Bicholim Municipal Council to provide a permanent shelter for vendors. “A permanent shade would be of great help to vendors, particularly during the monsoon,” he said.The vendors’ demand comes days after vegetable sellers operating under the market’s permanent shade faced similar problems when rooftop sheets were blown away by strong winds around 15 days ago.*Photo caption: Rainwater pours into the vegetable market at Bicholim, disrupting vendors’ business.*
