MAPUSA
Despite Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s recent assurance in the Goa Legislative Assembly that municipalities and panchayats would be directed not to collect Sopo (market fees) from vendors selling Matoli items during Ganesh Chaturthi, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) was on Tuesday found openly charging vendors.
Several vendors queued up at the municipal office near the Mapusa market to pay Sopo and collect token numbers for seating arrangements in the four-day Matoli bazaar.
Civic officials were reportedly charging Rs 280 per vendor for the entire four-day period, irrespective of whether vendors occupied the space for one or more days.
“I will be selling Matoli items for just one day, but I have been asked to pay Rs 280, which is the rate for four days,” said Omkar Sawant, a vendor from Bicholim.
Another vendor, Damini Naik from Amthane, said she intended to sell for only two days but was still asked to pay the full four-day fee.
When contacted, MMC chairperson Priya Mishal defended the council’s move, stating that no formal communication had been received from the government.
“We have not received any written direction from the Department of Municipal Administration not to accept the Sopo,” she said.
During the monsoon session of the Assembly, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai had urged the government to allow traditional vendors to sell local produce in designated spaces without being charged fees, citing the cultural significance of Matoli during Chaturthi.
Responding then, the Chief Minister had assured the House that instructions would be issued to all civic bodies not to levy fees from vendors during the festival.
The contradiction between the CM’s assurance and the Mapusa council’s practice has now raised questions about the implementation of the government’s directive.
