MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) is eyeing to capitalise on the Purumentachem feast fair at the Old Margao, beginning on Sunday with the civic body effecting a hike in the stall fees this time round.
As MMC fixed the fee of a two-metre stall at Rs 10,000, hawkers and traders came rushing to the civic body on Friday to protest over the fee hike, prompting Chairperson Damu Shirodkar to bring down the price to Rs 8,500 per stall.
Since the hawkers were unrelenting, citing that the fee hike is arbitrary and will adversely affect their business during the week-long fair, the MMC finally fixed the fee to Rs 8,000 per two-metre square stall.
The MMC Chairperson has set a revenue target of Rs 30-odd lakh by way of allotment of Margao municipal parking land for the hawkers to set up their stalls.
Questions, however, are being raised over the decision by the MMC Chairperson to reduce the fee from Rs 10,000 to Rs 8,500 before settling down for Rs 8000 for a two-square metre stall.
Questions did the rounds who has taken the decision to reduce the fee hike from Rs 10,000 to Rs 8000 and whether the decision has been backed by a Council resolution.
The MMC Chairperson had a hectic discussion with a delegation of hawkers and vendors as the latter demanded a rollback on the proposed fees.
An agitated MMC Chairperson, however, pointed out that the rate fixed by the civic body is not on the higher side, even threatening to open a file to prove that stalls had been allotted in the past for a higher amount.
“I have to look after the civic employees since the MMC has to generate revenue towards the payment of their wages amounting to Rs 2.5 crore per month. Hence, we have decided to tap revenue from the feast fair,” he told the hawkers.
After much discussion, the hawkers and MMC chief finally agreed on the Rs 8,000, with the civic chief pointing out that the hawkers will have to wind up the fair as per the high court directions.
Later briefing the media, Damu pointed out that the civic body will put in additional arrangements at the old market fair for the benefit of the people visiting the fair.
“We have to increase the number of toilets at the fair. It had been decided to collect the garbage twice a day so that there is no stink around,” he said.
He added: As far as traffic issues are concerned, highlighted by the residents of Madel, due care will be taken to ensure there is no inconvenience caused to the residents on account of the fair.”
