MAPUSA
The Mapusa Merchants Association (MMA) has strongly opposed the retrospective collection of sanitation charges by the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) and has urged authorities to implement the charges only from the current financial year.
The sanitation charges, introduced by the MMC in 2021 alongside house tax and other levies, are now being collected for the past four years, a move that merchants argue is unfair and financially burdensome.
“It would be highly unfair to collect sanitation charges for the last four years at once. This would place a significant financial burden on the traders and residents of Mapusa, making it difficult to pay a lump sum amount,” said MMA President Jitendra Falari.
The association has submitted a memorandum to MMC Chairperson Priya Mishal, requesting that sanitation charges be levied only from this year onwards.
Merchants also raised concerns about the poor sanitation services provided by the civic body despite regular increases in sanitation taxes.
“Even though the sanitation charges and other taxes are frequently revised and increased, there has been hardly any improvement in the services offered by the MMC,” said MMA Secretary Siddesh Raut.
While traders are not opposed to paying increased sanitation charges, they strongly object to retrospective collection, Raut added.
He also pointed out that other municipal councils in the State have implemented the government’s notification without applying it retrospectively and urged MMC to follow suit.
The merchants now await a response from the municipal authorities, hoping for a fair resolution to their concerns.
