MARGAO
The Purumentachem feast, beginning at the Old market area of the commercial capital, has made the Margao Municipal Council richer by Rs 18-19 lakh.
The MMC has also decided to use the feast fair to send across a message to the citizens on cleanliness, besides online payment of taxes, including house tax and trade licences.
Till Saturday, the MMC has allotted around 260 stalls to the hawkers, bringing in revenue of Rs 13.2 lakh into the civic coffers.
The SGDPA has also paid Rs 5.10 lakh to the MMC by way of licence to set up stalls on the sprawling SGPDA grounds, taking the total revenue collected by the civic body as on Saturday to around Rs 17-18 lakh.
Chief Officer Rohit Kadam informed that the balance 40 stalls will be allotted to the hawkers if there are any takers.
This is perhaps the first in the last couple of years that the MMC has earned handsome revenue from the allotment of stalls for the Purumentachem feast fair at the Old market. The increase in revenue is attributed to the decision of the Chief Officer Kadam to allow the stalls at the MMC building instead of allowing the hawkers to dictate terms to the civic body.
Meanwhile, the Chief Officer said since the MMC is earning handsome revenue on the feast fair, the civic body will install around five mobile toilets at the fair, with provision for cleaning twice a day. He said MMC staff will install dustbins at the fair to clear the garbage twice a day and put up no parking banners. Volunteers will be deployed at the fair to guide the people and ensure vehicular movement.
Kadam said the MMC will use the platform of the feast fair to promote online services provided by the Municipality. “Our staff will man a stall armed with a device to accept taxes and payments,” he added.
