the goan I network
MARGAO
A car showroom was amongst the three business establishments sealed by the Margao Municipal Council on Friday, even as a bank pulled down its shutters in the Aquem area of the city after coming across a Municipal team around the place.
Chief Officer Siddivinayak Naik said the municipal team has sealed the three premises, including a car showroom and two hardware shops after the occupiers refused to produce the documents, including the trade licence and receipts of house tax payments, in support of the business activity.
Later on Friday evening, the owner of the car showroom along with his employees were seen huddled with Municipal officials in the taxation section, expressing their willingness to clear the tax dues.
Sources in the MMC said the car showroom, which was opened a year ago, had never paid the trade licence or the house tax and the total arrears were pegged at a whooping Rs 2 lakh.
The showroom officials were seen literally pleading with the MMC officials to unseal the premises as they have to hand over cars to customers on Saturday and the Municipality closed during the weekend.
The MMC, however, stood their ground, saying the seal will be removed only after the owner clears the tax arrears.
Sources in the MMC further informed that a bank shut down its shutters in the Aquem area after they saw the Municipal team around the place. “The team will visit the bank on Monday and will insist on the trade licence and house tax payments,” the official added.
MMC returns confiscated items after levying 25 per cent fine
MARGAO: With the bye-law mandating auctioning of confiscated goods in an anti-encroachment drive still yet to become a reality in the Margao Municipal Council, goods confiscated in the two-day drive carried out by the civic body was returned back to the owners after levying a 25 per cent fine.
After the owners were told to get the receipts of tax payments, including GST paid by the business establishments, the Municipal officials released the goods after imposing the fine.
In the meantime, the anti-encroachment drive in the city continued for the third day on Friday, with MMC workers confiscating plastic chair, steel ladders and other goods stacked up in the building passages and footpaths.
