MARGAO
The High Court has issued directions to the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) to dispose of a representation received from the Margao Wholesale Fish Market Association challenging the increase in fees for entry of vehicles in the SGPDA wholesale fish market.
While disposing of the writ petition, the High Court has made it clear to the SGPDA that the planning body should endeavour to dispose of the representation from the Association as early as possible and in any case within a period of two months from the date of order.
The High Court has further directed that the SGPDA should immediately communicate its decision to the Margao Wholesale Fish Market Association so that if the decision is adverse, the Association gets an opportunity to challenge the same in accordance with the law.
“We direct the SGPDA to dispose of the petitioners’ representation dated 16/07/2020 as expeditiously as possible and in any case within two months from today,” the court said. “According to us, it would be appropriate if the SGPDA in the first instance, considers the representation made by the petitioners and disposes of the same one way or the other,” the Court observed.
SGPDA counsel, A D Bhobe, submitted before the Court that the representation will be considered and disposed of in accordance with the law and on its own merits within two months from today.
The Court made the observation after the counsel for the petitioner (Association) D Lawande pointed out that a representation was made by the petitioners on 16/07/2020 and even the reminders were sent to the SGPDA for consideration of the same.
He, however, pointed out that the representation is not being considered by the SGPDA, prompting the association to institute this petition to question the increase in fees.
The association had challenged the SGPDA’s decision on the increase of fees for entry of vehicles by contending that hiking the same from Rs 100 for one time entry to Rs 500 as exorbitant and economically not viable.
The association had stated that current revised rates imposed on the vehicles on hourly basis was arbitrary and unreasonable.
It is requested the SGPDA to revoke the charges levied vide meeting dated 23.06.2020 till the proper infrastructure was made available to the members of the association.
In the alternative, the association had requested the PDA to use 5000 square metres of the market area exclusively and it would pay Rs five lakh per month to the PDA.
