Vasco: Mormugao deputy collector and sub-divisional magistrate, Pratap Gaonkar, who heads the scrutiny committee assessing compensation claims after the devastating Modern Market fire, has completed hearings for 150 affected vendors. The committee has received 160 applications in all, submitted at the help desk and to the panel.“The remaining 10 applicants did not appear for Saturday’s hearing, though their forms were submitted,” Gaonkar told TOI, and added that the final list could still include them, suggesting they may not have received hearing messages on the mobile numbers provided in their claim forms.He added that the committee is considering claims at an average of around Rs 5 lakh per vendor, but the amount has not been finalised.Vendors who attended the hearings submitted documents, including purchase receipts for stock and materials, along with photographs of shops and stalls destroyed in the blaze.On Saturday, South Goa collector Egna Cleetus visited the Mormugao Municipal Council building and directed the committee to categorise the gutted shops. Following these instructions, the committee will inspect 20 shops at the Modern Market complex on Sunday or Monday.
