MAPUSA
Objecting to the high rate of Sopo collected by the temple committee, vendors and stall owners at the ongoing Bodgeshwar Zatra in a sign of protest downed their shutters on Saturday evening but later resolved the issue after holding a meeting with the temple committee.
Exhibiting a rare sign of unity, almost 70 percent of the vendors voluntarily shut down their stalls complaining against the unreasonable hike in the Sopo fees.
Incidentally, besides paying fees to the temple committee, the vendors/stall owners have to also shell out for payment of municipality fees and a fixed charge to the farmers who own the land.
The Shree Dev Bodgeshwar temple committee was charging a fee of Rs 500 per metre last year but suddenly hiked the amount to Rs 1,000 per metre this year.
The vendors took exception to the sudden increase in the Sopo fee which they said was unreasonable and unjustifiable considering the status of the stall owners who do business at the Zatra.
“We have to pay fees to the municipal council, temple committee and land owner. The total comes to Rs 20-25,000. Authorities concerned should understand that poor people come to sell their wares at the Zatra. They take loans to buy things. How are we going to do business if we have to shell out so much?” a vendor pleaded.
While the municipal council charges Rs 500 per metre, the temple committee charges Rs 1,000 per metre. The vendors have to also pay the land owners besides having to shell out for electricity and garbage collection.
“We are selling an item for as low as Rs 10 and Rs 5. How can we pay a fee of Rs 2,000 per day? The business is also not all that good. There is no proper drinking water and toilet facility here. If we speak out, the committee members become aggressive. How are we going to do business? We have decided to shut shop and leave,” said another vendor.
Sensing the mood of the vendors/stall owners, the Temple Committee President Anand Bhaidkar called a meeting with them to sort out the problem.
“There was a misunderstanding among the vendors on the Sopo rate which we have cleared. The issue has been resolved and the stall owners have agreed to open the stalls,” Bhaidkar said.
