MARGAO
The ongoing Purumentachem fest has enriched the coffers of the Margao Municipal Council by around Rs 29-30 lakh as the civic body cracked a whip against the illegalities on the SGPDA ground on Monday.While the MMC had given a NOC to the PDA to hold the fair on the PDA ground on land admeasuring 1,500 square metres, a complaint received by the civic body later revealed that land admeasuring 7,500 square metres was being occupied by the hawkers.
Taking cognisance of the complaint, Chief Officer Rohit Kadam drafted Market Inspectors to conduct measurements of the space occupied on the SGPDA ground. A notice was also issued to the Association of Carpenters seeking to know how they have erected the stalls on the SGDPA grounds since the stalls were found beyond the permitted area of 1500 square metres.
MMC Chairperson Lyndon Pereira also personally descended on the SGPDA area to clear the PDA footpaths of the encroachments and illegal hawkers.
By evening, a delegation of the carpenters came rushing to the Chief Officer, after which the civic body agreed to levy a fee of Rs one lakh on the Association members since they are local carpenters and have been part of the traditional festivities.
Chief Officer Kadam later told the media that the SGPDA had paid an amount of Rs 5.10 lakh to the MMC on Saturday being the fees for erecting stalls on the 1500 square metres.
“After we issued a show-cause notice for occupying the space beyond the 1500 square meter area, the MMC will receive an additional Rs eight lakh from the PDA. In addition, the Goan carpenters will pay Rs one lakh,” Kadam said, adding that the total income of the MMC from the Purumentachem fest this year will go up to Rs 29-30 lakh.
