The civic staff were conspicuous by their absence at the pay parking area at Mapusa taxi stand on Thursday.
Photo Credits: Agnelo Pereira
MAPUSA
The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) finds itself embroiled in controversy following a staggering 200% increase in pay parking fees at the taxi stand, leaving civic authorities scrambling for explanations amid mounting public outcry.
Questions abound as the mandatory display board detailing pay parking fees was conspicuously absent from the taxi stand site, leaving consumers puzzled over the sudden surge in rates.
While pay parking rates elsewhere in Mapusa stand at Rs 20 for four-wheelers and Rs 10 for two-wheelers for a two-hour duration, the exorbitant charge of Rs 60 at the taxi stand raises eyebrows and invites scrutiny.
Amidst the uproar, several councillors expressed dismay over the unilateral decision to hike fees, asserting that no resolution had been passed by the council to authorise such a drastic measure.
Councillor Shashank Narvekar emphasised the necessity of council approval for any financial decision, highlighting a lack of cohesion between the civic administration and the ruling council.
Independent councillor Prakash Bhivshet echoed Narvekar's sentiments, stressing the imperative of council resolutions in financial matters.
The controversy came to the fore when a consumer, charged Rs 60 for parking at the taxi stand, protested against the steep hike, revealing that he had paid only Rs 20 for the same spot days earlier.
While MMC Chairperson Nutan Bicholkar conferred with taxation officials to verify the sudden fee increase, the absence of Chief Officer Chandrakant Shetkar complicated matters further. Shetkar, who holds the Mapusa post as an additional charge, is present in the council only thrice a week.
Bicholkar clarified that the council had opted to continue with the previous fee structure after the contractor's term ended on March 31, with municipal staff tasked with fee collection.
However, the rationale behind the Rs 60 fee remained unclear. “The taxation department will have to explain the increase in the fee structure,” Bhicholkar said.
The Chief Officer attributed the fee hike to the inclusion of GST on pay parking fees, deferring further explanation to the Accounts Taxation Officer.
Meanwhile, amid the ensuing controversy, municipal staff refrained from collecting parking fees from consumers on Thursday. As scrutiny intensifies, stakeholders await clarity on the matter, with consumers and councillors alike demanding transparency and accountability from the MMC regarding the abrupt surge in pay parking fees.
