MARGAO
Around 292 forms taken so far, with only 46 applications for trade license returned to the civic body till date.
That's exactly the response MMC's offer to regularize business establishments operating sans the mandatory trade license in the commercial capital, putting the civic body in a piquant situation, as rough estimates peg the total number of establishments running illegally in the range of 8000-10,000.
While the dedicated counter set up at the entrance to the civic body has gone missing after it was set up with much fanfare, municipal officials pointed out that though the counter is now conspicuous by its absence, traders can be still come and collect the forms from the taxation department.
The poor response for the single window offer to regularise establishments running illegally without the mandatory trade license, however, has raised many an eyebrow amongst the officials. Margao municipal Chairperson Babita Angle Prabhudesai was not available for comment, but municipal officials pointed out that the response has not been encouraging and to the expectation of the civic body.
"Thousands of the business establishments operating without the mandatory trade license and advertising fees is a norm in the commercial capital than an exception. Still, traders have not availed of the one-time single window scheme to regularize the establishments with least documentation," remarked civic officials.
Incidentally, while the traders have not come in droves to avail of the one-time scheme to regularize the business establishments, small gadda owners, hawkers and even sopo payers have been doing the rounds of the Civic body hoping that the one-time scheme will be made applicable to them by the civic body. "Since the municipality had opened the special counter to regularise the illegal business establishments, gadda owners, hawkers, besides sopo payers have made inquiries with the civic body why the scheme is not applicable for them," a municipal official informed The Goan.
Accounts and Taxation Officer, Abhay Rane told The Goan that the 46 applications received by the civic body will be scrutinized by the Civic body before a decision taken on the regularization of the business establishments.
Around 292 forms taken so far, with only 46 applications for trade license returned to the civic body till date.
That's exactly the response MMC's offer to regularize business establishments operating sans the mandatory trade license in the commercial capital, putting the civic body in a piquant situation, as rough estimates peg the total number of establishments running illegally in the range of 8000-10,000.
While the dedicated counter set up at the entrance to the civic body has gone missing after it was set up with much fanfare, municipal officials pointed out that though the counter is now conspicuous by its absence, traders can be still come and collect the forms from the taxation department.
The poor response for the single window offer to regularise establishments running illegally without the mandatory trade license, however, has raised many an eyebrow amongst the officials. Margao municipal Chairperson Babita Angle Prabhudesai was not available for comment, but municipal officials pointed out that the response has not been encouraging and to the expectation of the civic body.
"Thousands of the business establishments operating without the mandatory trade license and advertising fees is a norm in the commercial capital than an exception. Still, traders have not availed of the one-time single window scheme to regularize the establishments with least documentation," remarked civic officials.
Incidentally, while the traders have not come in droves to avail of the one-time scheme to regularize the business establishments, small gadda owners, hawkers and even sopo payers have been doing the rounds of the Civic body hoping that the one-time scheme will be made applicable to them by the civic body. "Since the municipality had opened the special counter to regularise the illegal business establishments, gadda owners, hawkers, besides sopo payers have made inquiries with the civic body why the scheme is not applicable for them," a municipal official informed The Goan.
Accounts and Taxation Officer, Abhay Rane told The Goan that the 46 applications received by the civic body will be scrutinized by the Civic body before a decision taken on the regularization of the business establishments.
