PANJIM: The All Goa Merchants Association United Forum on Friday submitted a representation to Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant demanding that the Goa Municipalities (amendment) Ordinance 2020 be repealed or be referred to a Select Committee for wider consultation with the stakeholders.
Following objections from merchants and traders from across municipal areas, the government has kept in abeyance the implementation of the Ordinance and the Bill will be introduced in the upcoming State Legislative Assembly for discussion.
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“With the numerous anomalies inherent in the amendments as well as the ambiguous nature of some sections, we feel it will be practical on the government’s part to immediately repeal the Ordinance or it be referred to a Select Committee under the Chairmanship of the Urban Development Minister ,” Association convenor Ashish Shirodkar said.
The Association on Friday submitted a series of suggestions to the amendment to the government, wherein it has proposed to scrap the provision of termination of leases after ten years and re-auction clause as the same is not acceptable. They have demanded that the automatic renewal every three years should be maintained.
The merchants have also objected to the provision wherein automatic termination of leases due to non-payment of rent or failure to renew has been proposed, stating that there could be various bona fide reasons for non-payment of rents.
They have also objected to the move to allow municipal bodies to hand over their premises to private developers for redevelopment purpose. The association said that redevelopment should be under self finance scheme involving current lessees and with proper involvement of stakeholders.
The merchants also said that increase in rent by 10 per cent annually is exorbitant and hence an outer limit ought to be fixed.
“It is no doubt that the government through the Ordinance intends to regularise some unauthorised transfer and renew leases and also raise finances for the municipalities. However, with subjects like rents, fees, premises, etc, not being uniform among all municipal councils, it is important to have discussion and consultation with the stakeholders,” Shirodkar said.
Shirodkar said that keeping with the changing times, it is import that the Municipal Act is updated.
