MARGAO
When will the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) set in motion the process to tender the collection of Sopo fees from the wholesale fish market when the PDA itself had conceded that the market has the potential to generate revenue to the tune of over Rs 70-80 lakh annually?
Otherwise, consider this. At its meeting held on September 29, the SGPDA headed by MLA Wilfred D’Sa had resolved to float a tender inviting bidders for the Sopo fee collection contract. And till such time the tender was floated, the PDA at the meeting had resolved to collect the Sopo fees departmentally from October 1.
Take note, the existing contractor knocked on the doors of a Margao court informing it that the SGPDA had decided to terminate him from collecting the fees despite earlier asking him to continue to do so till the floating of the tender.
Based on his application, the court had directed the SGPDA to maintain status quo till hearing on the matter, which is now scheduled on October 21. It is to be seen whether the court prevents the SGPDA from setting in motion the process to float the Sopo collection tender.
Inquiries by The Goan have revealed that the PDA has not set in motion the process of the codal formalities in the last 20 days when there’s no stay from the court barring the PDA to tender the Sopo fee collection contract.
When The Goan called up SGPDA Member Secretary Vertika Dagur to shed light on the tendering of the Sopo contract as per the PDA decision taken at the September 29 meeting, she was frank in admitting that the process has not begun to date.
The SGPDA Chairman also confirmed that the PDA has not given effect to the resolution to invite bids to take the Sopo fee collection contract. “The PDA could not collect the Sopo fees departmentally after the contractor filed a petition in the court. Hence, the process could not start,” he said.
D’Sa, however, had no answer when questioned whether the court matter has come in the way of the floating of the tender, other than saying the PDA will consult the lawyer for an opinion.
Sources in the PDA say if the authority had a will to tender the Sopo collection fees, nothing will stop the planning body from making an application to the court seeking permission to do so.
It’s now over a decade, around 12 years to be precise, that the powers that be ruling the PDA had been conveniently avoiding tendering of the Sopo process.
That the wholesale fish market has the potential to enrich the SGPDA coffers annually by Rs 70-80 lakh became clear last month when Chairman D’Sa said the PDA had earned a revenue of Rs 11 lakh from a single month. And, the Chairman pointed out that the revenue collection could be much higher if the PDA adds to the revenue the collection of fees from the traditional fishermen and the fish cutters.
