the goan I network
MARGAO
Traders under the banner of Madgaon New Market Traders Association have threatened to call for a Margao bandh and stage peaceful protest in front of the SGPDA office, Margao Municipality and near the exhibitions and fairs if the authorities fail to cap the exhibition and fairs in the commercial capital.
The traders have also prayed to the Director of Commercial taxes, Food and Drugs Administration, the Goa State Pollution Control Board and Legal Metrology to conduct compulsory surprise inspection of every stall at the exhibitions and fairs held in the city.
In his memorandum addressed to various authorities, Association President Vinod Shirodkar said traders, who run their business in Margao and pay taxes, have been facing tremendous loss in business because of the illegal exhibitions permitted on the SGPDA ground. While making a fervent plea to the SGPDA to stop all exhibitions-cum-sale on their grounds, the traders further requested the Margao Municipality to enforce the anti-encroachment order of the High Court strictly against all the traders not registered in Goa, who set up stalls during fairs without displaying their GST number.
He further said the feast fairs are allowed to continue for more than 10 days, which directly affect the Margao traders. “Most of the stalls are operated by people from outside the State. There’s a lot of corruption in the allotment of stalls. Further, the contractor appointed by the MMC collects thousands of rupees from each stall which is not declared by the contractor,” Shirodkar added.
He drew attention of the Chief Secretary that the SGPDA has been leasing their ground for exhibitions and fairs even though the ground is shown as a parking space and is meant for the general public, Osia complex and SGPDA market.
“The SGPDA is not a supreme body. Any activity done by the SGPDA has to follow the Municipality Act and Rules and also GST and other laws in force,” he said.
Shirodkar, however, added that the SGPDA has been giving a free hand to the vendors who erect stalls on the ground. “The staff of the stalls urinate and defecate in the open. The exhibitions obstruct the free flow of traffic around Osia complex and Old market circle. They use water illegally from the tank in front of Osia complex,” he added.
Referring to a recent notification, the traders association pointed out that the organiser of an exhibition shall obtain GST registration and ensure persons, who are allotted stalls are all registered under the GST and that a board showing the GSTT No, legal name, trade name are all displayed at each stall.
