the goan I network
MARGAO
More than a month and half after the sopo contract ended on March 31, the Margao Municipal Council has now decided to collect the sopo departmentally by deputing the civic employees.
This has only raised the question why the Chief Officer AjitPanchwadkar or the elected Council did not take prompt measures to collect the
sopo departmentally from April 1 itself.
That some persons were coolly collecting the sopo revenue right under the nose of the Municipal authorities during the last one month and half did not spur the MMC to take immediate steps to stop the loss of revenue on the sopo front.
The issue did figure at the Thursday meeting of the Council when City Fathers sought to know the fate of the sopo collection. Accounts and Taxation Officer Abhay Rane explained that though the MMC had called for the sopo auction, the auction could not be held, first because of the election code of conduct and then by the covid-19 lockdown.
Rane told the Council that the two bidders had placed their bids for the sopo, but the auction could not be held because of the election code and then by the covid-19 lockdown. He said the question of holding fresh auction will be decided only after seeking legal advise two parties had placed their bids for the auction.
