Gandhi Market vendors oppose bid to measure business outlets

MARGAO

The contentious issue of sopo fee collection in the commercial capital resurfaced on Thursday after an attempt to measure business outlets at the Margao Municipal market triggered strong opposition from Gandhi Market vendors.

Tensions flared when the sopo collection team had planned to measure stalls to levy fees based on the area occupied, a move the vendors claimed would effectively result in higher charges. The collectors alleged that the exercise was being deliberately stalled by the Ajgaonkar brothers due to vested interests.

By noon, Gandhi Market vendors, led by Ashok Naik, countered the sopo collection team and rejected the allegations, asserting that the Ajgaonkar brothers had no personal interest in the market and were only working for the welfare of the vendors.

According to the sopo collection team, vendors in the Gandhi Market were paying only Rs 10 as sopo fee despite occupying space exceeding to one square metre. To address the issue, a Margao Municipal official was brought in to carry out measurements of the stalls. However, the exercise was halted after vendors objected and stopped the officials from proceeding.

This prompted the sopo collectors to reiterate their allegations against the Ajgaonkar brothers, claiming they were opposing the implementation of existing sopo rates. “Manohar Ajgaonkar had opposed the implementation of sopo fee charges for vendors in the Gandhi Market and the area near Pimpalkatta, alleging a hike. There is no sopo fee hike. We are only implementing the Rs 10 fee per square metre of space occupied,” said a sopo collector.

The remarks drew sharp reactions from the Gandhi Market vendors, who strongly defended the Ajgaonkar brothers. Ashok Naik termed the allegations “false and baseless,” stating that both Manohar and Rajendra Ajgaonkar have consistently worked in the interest of the vendors.

“Even when the shed housing OBC vendors was in a dilapidated condition, the Ajgaonkar brothers got it repaired using their own funds,” Naik said, while reiterating that vendors would not accept any increase in sopo fees and would continue paying the prescribed charges. He added that the Gandhi Market vendors would oppose any hike in sopo fees “come what may.”