MARGAO
Looking at the huge mismatch between the revenue generated from the Gandhi market and the expenses towards its upkeep and maintenance, the Margao Municipal Council has mulled revision of rent in the market as per the PWD rates and has set 15-day time frame for the traders and vendors to offer their suggestions.
A survey has revealed that while Gandhi Market brings only Rs two lakh revenue, the civic body spends a whopping Rs 93 lakh on the market every month for its upkeep and maintenance.
In fact, many a skeleton has tumbled out of the MMC-run Gandhi market as a survey conducted by the civic body has revealed rampant subletting of the municipal stalls sans permission. The survey has further revealed the unauthorized amalgamation of two-three shops into a single establishment without bringing any monetary benefits for the civic body.
This was conveyed to a delegation of Gandh market vendors led by Rajendra Azgaonkar that was invited for discussions by MMC Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai and Chief Officer on Wednesday noon.
While Azgaonkar and the Gandhi market vendors insisted that the civic body meet their demands for the construction of a market shed, the Chairperson made it quite clear that while the municipality may not be averse in constructing the shed, the vendors and the shop owners should come up with suggestions on the payment of revised rent to the civic body.
In fact, the Chairperson made it amply clear to the Gandhi Market Vendors Association that it should either give suggestions within 15 days or the civic body will go ahead and implement the revised rates.
The MMC Chairperson later told The Goan that the huge mismatch between the revenue generated from the Gandhi market and the expenses cannot go on and on when there are rampant illegalities. “We have made it clear that the civic body will revise the rent as per the rates fixed by the PWD. It is illegal to sublet the municipal shops and hence all those who have come in possession of the shops via subletting should approach the civic body and execute fresh leases,” she said, adding that the earlier councils neither bothered to revise the rent of the municipal shops nor had checked the illegal amalgamation of municipal shops, denying rent to the civic body.
When asked to reply to the queries raised by the Gandhi market vendors that the municipality has turned a blind eye to the New Market, the MMC Chairperson said that the civic body would start a similar survey there.
Meanwhile, Rajendra Azgaonkar told The Goan that the issue of rent revision will be placed before the vendors, while making clear that the civic body cannot set any deadline for the vendors.
