Margao council’s handling of encroachments has been criticised by the public.
MARGAO
The recent attempt by the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) to measure stalls at the Gandhi Market for the purpose of collecting sopo fees has sparked a larger debate over the civic body’s approach towards encroachments in municipal markets.
The exercise, carried out by municipal market inspectors along with representatives of the sopo fee collection contractor, has raised a critical question: is the MMC prioritising revenue generation from encroachments instead of fulfilling its responsibility to remove them in line with High Court directives?
The issue has triggered intense discussion within municipal circles and among traders at both the Gandhi Market and the New Market. The controversy comes a day after officials made an unsuccessful attempt to reassess stall areas in Gandhi Market amid resistance from vendors and market leader, former Dy CM Manohar Ajgaonkar.
Incidentally, encroachments along roadsides, footpaths and passages have been mushrooming across the commercial capital for reasons unknown. Sadekar Lane, the Caro Corner building lane, just to name a few, stand encroached right under the very eyes of the municipal officers and City Fathers.
The wholesale fish market road is another case in point. Roadside vendors make merry along the road, selling groceries, vegetables, fruits, ready-made garments, etc.
Revenue vs enforcement
At the heart of the controversy are two key concerns. First, whether the civic administration is shifting its focus towards maximising sopo fee collection — including from encroached spaces — for the benefit of the sopo contractor rather than acting against illegal extensions in market areas.
Second, questions are being raised over the fairness of revising stall measurements after the sopo collection contract has already been awarded. The MMC had floated the tender based on existing records and stall assessments. Critics argue that allowing the contractor to collect additional fees on expanded or encroached areas effectively alters the terms of the contract post-award.
The sopo system — a daily fee collected from market vendors for occupying space — has long been a source of revenue for the MMC. However, the issue of encroachments in Margao’s markets, footpaths and public passages has persisted for years.
The High Court has previously directed civic authorities to clear such encroachments to ensure free movement and proper regulation of public spaces. Despite these directives, enforcement has remained inconsistent, with periodic drives followed by a return to the status quo.
Growing concern
The latest development has intensified concerns that the civic body may be tacitly permitting encroachments by bringing them under the fee net, rather than removing them altogether.
“The fundamental question is whether the MMC intends to act against encroachments or legitimise them through fee collection,” said a source familiar with the developments.
As the debate continues, a larger question looms over the civic administration: will it initiate decisive action to clear encroachments from city markets, footpaths and public passages, or allow the situation to persist while deriving additional revenue through sopo collections?
