MARGAO
Margao-based lawyer, Adv Anacleto Viegas on Tuesday charged the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGDPA) for charging Rs 200 per fish cutting at the wholesale fish market without issuing the receipt.
Taking up cudgels for the fish cutters, who have not been registered by the PDA, but have been doing business in the wholesale fish market, Anacleto questioned the rationale behind levying a fee of Rs 200 on each of the fish vendors without giving them the receipt in return.
Claiming that the Rs 200 fee levied by the PDA is on a higher side, he demanded that the PDA adjust the fee and also register the fish vendors in the wholesale fish market. “Why is the fee collector in the SGDPA market not issuing the receipts? Has the SGDPA hiked the fee from Rs 100 to Rs 200 or is someone collecting the fees without the knowledge of the PDA and without issuing the receipts,” he questioned.
Demanding a stop to exploitation of the poor, Anacleto demanded to know how the fish cutters will sustain themselves when the fishing season has not been good this year and the PDA effecting a hike in the fees. “We feel the fish cutters should be charged minimum fees so that they earn something and give service to the customers,” he said.
“Where is the money collected from the fish cutters going without issuing receipts? Is it going to the PDA treasury or there is a drain in the revenue,” he questioned, while issuing a warning that he would stage a dharna in front of the SGPDA office along with the fish cutters if relief is not provided to the cutters.
The city-based lawyer also questioned the hygiene and sanitation in the wholesale fish market.
