House tax, fees worth Rs 20 lakh collected on Day 1; congestion exposes poor planning
Rush of citizens at the Margao Municipal Council cash section for payment of house tax, trade licence, fees for income certificates.
MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) began the new financial year on a strong note, collecting approximately Rs 20 lakh in revenue on day one through house tax, trade licences, advertisement fees and sopo collections.
However, the surge in payments led to heavy congestion at the civic body’s cash section, with more than 150 citizens queuing up for various services, including payment of fees for income certificates. With all services routed through a single queue, the rush intensified through the day, causing inconvenience to citizens.
Many residents urged the administration to deploy additional staff to streamline operations and clear the backlog.
Former MMC councillor Jaffer Shaikh said the situation could have been handled more efficiently. “The MMC witnesses such a rush in the first few days of the financial year every year. People come to pay house tax, renew trade licences, and clear advertisement and gadda fees. The administration should have anticipated this and arranged additional manpower,” he said.
Sources at the cash counter said house tax collections alone amounted to around Rs 6.5 lakh, while trade licence and advertisement fees contributed approximately Rs 2.5 lakh. Additionally, the sopo contractor deposited the monthly installment of Rs 10 lakh on the first day itself.
Officials expect the rush to continue in the coming days. “With intervening holidays starting with Good Friday, we anticipate an even higher turnout from Monday as citizens and traders look to complete their payments,” sources added.
