MARGAO
South Goa Planning and Development Authority’s tender of sopo collection fee in the wholesale fish market is back in the news, this time over the tender clause that the bidders should have 10 years of fishing experience and a prescribed business turnover.
As questions have been raised by prospective bidders on what has the fishing experience to do with sopo fee collection, the SGPDA at an emergency meeting held on Tuesday has resolved to refer this contentious issue to the government for opinion.
Along with this ticklish issue, the SGPDA meeting chaired by PDA Chairman, MLA Krishna Daji Salkar also deliberated on the three-year tender period, with bidders expressing their strong reservations to deposit 50 per cent of the bid amount, approximately working out around Rs six crore.
The emergency meeting was specifically called by the Chairman after the prospective bidders at the pre-bid meeting raised the contentious issue of the tender clause mandating that the bidders should have 10-year fishing experience. After the bidders contended that fishing and sopo fee collection has no connection, the SGPDA placed the sentiments of the bidders before the Authority meeting on Tuesday, which was attended by the Chairman, besides MLA Digambar Kamat and other members.
After the meeting, the PDA chairman pointed out that the PDA has resolved to bring to the attention of the sentiments of the bidders over the tender clause mandating 10 year fishing experience. “Since the bidders have contended that fishing and sopo fee collection are not at connected, we have decided to submit the report to the government for consideration”, he said.
Salkar, however, hastened to add that the bid process for the sopo fee collection will not stop because of this fishing clause issue, saying bidders can submit their bids during the time frame. “Whatever decision the government takes on the matter will be implemented by the PDA and necessary changes in the bid, if any, will be effected”, he said.
The SGPDA Chairman further said that since the bidders have called for a one year collection period, the meeting has decided to bring this matter to the notice of the government. “The bidders have contended that since the tender is for a three year period, a successful bidder will be required to deposit 50 per cent of the bid amount. Assuming that the successful bidders gets the contract for Rs 12 crore for a three year period, he would have to deposit 50 per cent of the bid amount, i.e. Rs six crore, which has been objected to by the bidders”, he said.
To another question of the bid price set by the PDA, i.e. Rs 33 lakh a month when the departmental collection of sopo fees by the SGPDA is around Rs 12 lakh a month on an average, Salkar said the sopo collection is expected to go up in the wholesale fish market after phase-I of the market is thrown open by the year end. “Right now, only 40 per cent of the market space is being utilized. Once the market is commissioned, the entire area will play host to activities. Besides, we also intend to ensure that all the fish vehicles enter the market in order to mop up revenue. This will increase the business and increase revenue too”, he said.
In this respect, the SGPDA Chairman pointed out that the bidder will start sopo fee collection from the wholesale fish market only after phase-I for the market is commissioned, by the year end.
