the goan I network
MARGAO
MMC chairperson Babita Prabhudesai said the rates are reasonable in nature, adding that the municipality has decided to start collection of sanitation fees since no such fees were collected from these establishments all these years.
While MMC has notified annual fees to the tune of `600, around `50 per month for residential houses and apartments, it has formulated a fee structure for commercial establishments, with a minimum annual fee of `1,800 for offices and shops to a whopping `72,000 for hospitals depending on their category. Vegetable gaddas will have to cough up `5,400 sanitation fees a year, while spare part shops and all other traders not considered in the sanitation tariff will be charged an uniform annual fee of `6,000.
The worst hit may be the bars and restaurants already suffering from the Supreme Court order banning operation of liquor outlets within 500 metres of the national and state highways. Air-conditioned bars and restaurants are now required to pay a whopping annual sanitation fee of `54,000, while small bars and restaurants will be levied an annual fees of `12,000. Small traders operating in the New Market pointed out that the traders will now be required to cough up around `10,000 to the municipality by way of sanitation fees and other taxes. President of the New Market Traders Association, Vinod Shirodkar said the traders are taking a close look at the fees and will take
action accordingly.
