MARGAO
Finally, the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) Member Secretary Vinod Kumar Chandra has issued an order in writing to the PDA Planning Assistant Paul Gomes to carry out the duties of levy collection and maintenance of the wholesale fish market.
The SGPDA Member Secretary, however, seemed to be in no mood to file an FIR against those named by Paul for handing out threats to him if he dares to enter the wholesale fish market.
While PDA Member Secretary Vinod Kumar’s order dated June 22 will now give effect to TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane’s fiat to collect the sopo fees from the wholesale fish market departmentally, many an eyebrow has been raised over Vinod Kumar’s order, which says the order will come into effect from June 9.
Take note, Paul and a group of labourers had descended in the wholesale fish market to collect the sopo fees, but on oral instructions from the PDA member secretary. This is the first time that the SGDPA Member Secretary has issued a written order to direct the PDA planning assistant to collect the fees as per the directions of PDA Chairman Krishna Daji Salkar.
Meanwhile, questions are being raised in SGPDA circles about why the PDA member secretary Vinod Kumar has been dragging his feet in lodging an FIR with the police as requested by the PDA official after the later complained of threats received by him for collecting the sopo fees.
In fact, in his note, Paul had requested the Member Secretary to file a police complaint since he was apprehending danger to his life while performing his duties in the wholesale fish market.
Paul had also asked for police protection during his presence at the wholesale fish market. Sources in the PDA, however, do not know whether the member secretary has requested the Fatorda police to provide police protection to the PDA team collecting sopo fees in the wholesale fish market.
