MARGAO
In a major decision, the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) has rejected the request of Margao wholesale Fish Market traders Association to reconsider the sopo fees levied on fish-laden vehicles entering the market.
In another decision, the PDA has further decided to float the tender to invite bids from prospective parties for the collection of sopo fees in the wholesale fish market.
Addressing the media after the meeting on Wednesday, SGPDA Chairman MLA Wilfred D’Sa said the Margao Wholesale Fish Market Association had moved the High Court for reduction of the sopo fees levied by the PDA. “The High Court had granted two month’s time for the SGPDA to take a decision on the association’s plea. Today, the PDA has resolved to stick to the fees, which are levied on the vehicles on an hourly basis. The PDA will file the resolution in the court within the two-month time-frame,” he added.
In another decision, the PDA has decided that all the prospective parties, who are interested in fish market sopo, should participate in the tender that would be floated by the PDA soon.
“We have set in motion the process to tender the wholesale fish market sopo contract. The PDA has obtained the technical sanction from the PDA for tendering of the sopo collection at the market. Those interested in the sopo contract should participate in the tender as and when it is floated,” he added.
The SGPDA Chairman further said that the sopo collection in the wholesale market has now gone up manifold in the last few months. “Earlier, the PDA used to earn a revenue of Rs 18 lakh annually. Now, the PDA has taken steps which will ensure that the sopo collection revenue goes up to Rs 1.08 crore,” he said.
When the media sought to know how much more time the PDA will take to float the sopo tender, D’Sa said the proposal will again go to the PWD for the mandatory sanction.
In another decision, the SGPDA has rejected the proposal of a group of fish cutters doing business in the wholesale market for their registration with the planning body on the ground that the place cannot have fish cutters.
Meanwhile, the SGPDA has decided to float a tender to engage a waste management agency for the treatment of waste generated in the PDA wholesale and retail fish markets. “The agency has agreed to set up the plant on payment of Rs 2.20 lakh a month. Presently, we are paying Rs 1.50 lakh to the MMC, but the waste lifting has not evoked the desired result to date.”
The SGPDA has also given the go-ahead signal to city-based builder Rajendra N Talak to take up beautification of the market area under CSR activity.
