MAPUSA
Convenor of All Goa Merchants Association United Forum Ashish Shirodkar on Thursday informed that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured to take all stakeholders into confidence and bring relevant changes in the municipality ordinance.
The forum in a representation requested the chief minister to de-notify/withdraw the ordinance and restore the position as existing before the ordinance.
“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured to convene a meeting of all stakeholders including merchants, DMA and the AG to correct all lacunae in the present amendment,” Shirodkar said.
“If need be, the CM has assured to discuss the matter in the assembly and issue a fresh ordination/notification,” he added.
A wide representation of merchants from across Goa under the banner of All Goa Merchants Association United Forum met the chief minister at the ministerial block in the Secretariat and handed a representation to him.
Shirodkar informed that BJP President Sadanand Tanavade sympathised with the merchants and assured the party’s total support to them.
“The BJP chief assured us that the party will push the government to get our demand rectified,” he said.
The forum in its representation said that the amendment of the Municipality Act totally displaces the existing lessees and takes away their livelihood and those who are dependent on them.
It further said the amendment sought to evict all the lessees who existed since the commencement of the Municipality Act and the shops which were run by their forefathers.
“The municipality being a local body should protect the interest of the locals and the amendment to auction the existing premises will only give benefit to the wealthy and rich people,” Shirodkar said in the representation.
He further said the proposed annual increase in rent of minimum 10 per cent was totally against the merchants and there was no cap in the upper limit of increase in rent.
“The discretionary powers given to the council and the government to allow transfers or renewals will lead to corruption and also to settle personal and political scores,” he said.
The forum urged the chief minister to de-notify/withdraw the said ordinance and restore the position as existing before the ordinance.
It may be recalled the Governor recently promulgated the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 which sought to regularise unauthorized transfer of municipal premises/shops and limit the lease period of the shops to 10 years.
The Ordinance also made the illegal transfer of municipal shops a non-bailable offence and effected steep hike in rent rate and transfer fees.
