VASCO
Stating that revenue leakage will not be tolerated, Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chief Officer Angelo Fernandes has warned that the council would initiate stringent actions against defaulters, including sealing of shops and stopping of trade.
Fernandes said the drive to form teams and survey every establishment to verify documents had received a tremendous response from the people.
"We need to recover a huge amount of arrears in the form of trade licenses, trade tax and other dues. People are conducting businesses without valid trade licenses and some have even sub-let shops to others without license and permissions of MMC. This revenue leakage will not be tolerated and we have to find a way to stop this."
Fernandes said he had initiated a drive and set up teams for every ward to conduct an entire survey so that MMC can know how many vendors are operating illegally.
“It had come to light that some well-known outlets had no trade license but had been operating for several years.”
"People clear water and electricity bills on time and even recharge their phone bills, but when it comes to MMC they don't want to pay their dues even though the house tax is an annual payment.”
"To those who want to regularise their licenses, we can impose a fine and grant them permission but anyone operating illegally will be stopped and we can even think of sealing the shops.”
“Vasco MMC has a big force of staff and contract workers who are working very hard and I feel sorry that MMC cannot pay on time, and they face hardships from banks where they have loans. While the Seventh Pay Commission has increased the salary, some have Rs 100 as annual house tax and that is also not paid.”
“On the other side, there are many who are operating without paying their dues to MMC and that too, without valid permissions and as a last resort, I had to take this punitive action," said Fernandes.
Fernandes said the MMC teams have been checking documents and permissions of every outlet.
“I request the public to cooperate and pay the necessary dues by January 31 and while some have begun clearing their dues, some are still trying to avoid payment and I want to make it very clear that after January 31, MMC will initiate stringent actions possible, including sealing of shops and stopping the trade," said Fernandes.
Fernandes said the drive would continue and there will be an assessment taken up after the drive.
