MARGAO
The 10-day fair at the Old Market area for the Holy Spirit Church feast on December 8 has kicked up a row over the location of the stalls.
While the Margao Municipal Council has approved the fair on the municipality acquired land on the old market circle-KTC bus stand road, what kicked up the row was that stalls have also come up on the SGPDA parking and exhibition grounds.
Chief Officer, Agnelo Fernandes, along with municipal officials descended on the Old Market area on Tuesday evening to take stock of the situation. He has now called for a meeting with the organizer of the stalls at the SGPDA ground, saying the civic body will decide on the stalls on the PDA ground on Wednesday.
What is at stake is the collection of sopo fees from the vendors participating in the 10-day fair. The MMC-appointed sopo contractor is believed to have complained to the CO and other officials that stalls are being set up on the SGPDA ground. He is believed to have contended that he would lose revenue from the fair if stalls are also allowed on the SGPDA ground.
On the other hand, the organizer of the fair on the SGPDA ground is believed to have offered to pay the fees to the MMC .
Sources said the CO has found himself in a tight spot since there’s a council resolution authorizing the setting up of the feast fair stalls on the MMC acquired land. Officials feared that the existing contractor may claim loss of revenue if the civic body permits setting up of stalls on the SGPDA ground and may finally claim compensation.
The CO said a decision will be taken on Wednesday on how to go about the situation. He said the municipality has no issue if the SGPDA ground is being used by the carpenters to display their furniture items.
