The Vasco fire compensation process has moved forward, with hearings completed for 150 of the 160 vendors who applied for relief after the devastating blaze at the Modern Market. The remaining 10 applicants could still be considered despite not attending the latest hearing, according to the scrutiny committee reviewing the claims.
Mormugao deputy collector and sub-divisional magistrate Pratap Gaonkar, who heads the committee, said the 10 applicants had submitted their forms but did not appear for Saturday’s hearing. The committee is examining whether they may not have received hearing messages on the mobile numbers provided in their claim forms.
The committee has received 160 applications through the help desk and directly from claimants. Vendors who attended the hearings submitted supporting documents, including purchase receipts for stock and materials, as well as photographs of shops and stalls destroyed in the fire.
Claims are currently being considered at an average of around Rs 5 lakh per vendor, Gaonkar told the Times of India. The compensation amount has not yet been finalised, and the average figure does not represent an approved payout for any individual claimant.
The process is being conducted through a scrutiny committee led by the Mormugao sub-divisional administration. The committee’s role includes examining the documents submitted by affected vendors and assessing the condition and category of the damaged commercial units before preparing the final list.
South Goa collector Egna Cleetus visited the Mormugao Municipal Council building on Saturday and directed the committee to categorise the gutted shops. Following those instructions, committee members are scheduled to inspect 20 shops at the Modern Market complex on Sunday or Monday.
The inspection will add a site-based assessment to the documentation already submitted by vendors. The committee’s final decision will determine which claims are included and the compensation amount considered for each affected vendor. The status of the 10 applicants who missed the hearing will also be considered as part of the final process.
