Traders say collection is extortion; plan legal recourse
MARGAO
The Shadow Council for Margao has urged citizens to intensify the agitation for the roll back in the hike in fees on commercial establishments.
Members of the Council maintained that it is only the establishments running in private premises that are facing this huge burden, while the establishments running in Municipal owned premises are neither tapped for trade licence/ signboard nor for sanitation fees.
The citizens protested that of the over 800 units owned by MMC, hardly 16 premises have valid trade licences.
Lincoln Gomes called upon the public to unite and fight for the withdrawal of the hike in fees. Claiming that many businessmen have been bold enough to give in writing to the MMC that they refuse to pay the fees as per new rates as the hike was not as per the resolution, he hoped that others also follow suit.
When questioned over the claims of the Chairperson that crores of rupees were paid by the traders, SCM convenor Savio Coutinho has shot back saying that “when you charge Rs 500 for the ones who were paying Rs 100, the collection will naturally be Rs 5 lakh when it was Rs 1 lakh earlier. The Council is taking advantage as many traders who require the renewed trade licence for submission to other offices; this is extortion and not willingly paid.”
While many traders are gearing up to take legal recourse to this issue, Coutinho said the citizens will take this issue before the public court during the ensuing Municipal elections, while warning the councillors supporting the hike.
