MARGAO
The High Court on Wednesday allowed the Margao Municipal Council to further extend by seven days the collection of Sopo (occupation fees) by the contractor pending disposal of the appeal filed by Ravindra Velip in the Sopo auction matter.
When the matter came up for hearing before the High Court, the Margao Municipal Council lawyer placed before the Court that the auction conducted by the civic body which has gone for a whopping Rs 65.17 lakh.
The municipal lawyer said the appellant is ready to match the bid of Rs 65.17 lakh in the event the auction process is scrapped as per the prayer of the appellant, who had challenged
the sopo auction on grounds that the two year experience clause debarred many a bidder from participating in
the auction.
The court has adjourned hearing the case to Friday and in the meantime has allowed the Margao Municipal Council to extend the collection of existing sopo by another seven days till the disposal of the petition.
While the Sopo auction had kicked up a row this year, the auction conducted by the MMC has fetched the highest ever revenue amounting to Rs 65.17 lakh for the current financial year.
