the goan I network
MARGAO
Saying that exhibitions cum sales in the commercial capital has hit their business adversely, the New Market Traders Association has vehemently objected to the SGPDA’s plan to legalise exhibitions and sales on its property at Old market by showing the area as an exhibition ground on the draft Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Margao.
Association President Vinod Shirodkar has lodged his objection with the PDA, with the objection stating that no area in the parking lot should be marked for exhibitions or commercial activities on the Outline Development Plan (ODP). Shirodkar has warned that the traders will have no choice but to protest outside the SGPDA office or outside the exhibition area to compel the PDA to stop these “illegal activities”.
The association president told The Goan that the objection has been lodged with the SGPDA within the period set by the Authority for submissions of objections to the ODP. “We are native Goans who have been running small businesses in Margao for the last many years. Margao has developed as a commercial capital of the State because of the traders and small businesses. Several thousand families of shop owners, business operators and staff are dependent on the income generated in the Margao market,” Shirodkar said, while making a strong case before the SGPDA that the exhibition cum sales have only been causing harm to their businesses.
He pointed out that unlike the traders, the exhibition cum sales do not pay taxes to the State and that most of them do not come under the tax net. “These exhibition cum sales occupy the area, which was primarily acquired for the purpose of parking,” Shirodkar said, adding that the items sold in these exhibitions are substandard, with electronic items sold in these exhibitions without the mandatory ISI mark.
“The revenue collected by the SGPDA and by the government of Goa is only a fraction of the revenue earned at the exhibition cum sales,” Shirodkar added, while saying that the traders now pin their hopes on the SGPDA to protect the interest as well as the livelihood of the traders and their families.
The New Market Traders Association had been vehemently opposing holding of exhibition cum sales at Old Market on the plea that the area was acquired for parking and not for exhibition grounds.
To legalise the exhibitions cum sales on the property, the SGDPA has earmarked a portion of the acquired parking land as exhibition ground -- a move which has come under opposition from the Margao traders.
