Team Herald
MARGAO: Margao Municipal Council’s drive to get business establishments to pay their dues has started showing results with the financial institutes making the payments which in some cases were due since 2009. The Council is simultaneously carrying out its drive against encroachments outside the designated areas.
Canara Bank has paid an amount of Rs 23.88 lakh to the council while the Syndicate Bank has to pay an amount of Rs. 12.75 lakh. The council is presently working out the payment due from United Commercial Bank better known as UCO Bank which is due since 2009.
Meanwhile the lobby of the council on the ground floor looks like a godown as it is stocked with material seized by the council staff from establishments that had encroached upon the area beyond the space of their shop to display their goods.
Besides plastic chairs, mattresses and other items even freezers have been seized by the council and the total goods collected are around 14 truck loads and as per the owners’ estimate the goods are worth around Rs 3.50 lakh.
However, Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik said the price would be higher as an aluminum ladder seized was purchased for Rs 560 as per the GST bill but was sold to customers for Rs 3,500 and hence the value is bound to increase.
Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Dr Babita Angle has reportedly instructed the staff to auction the goods seized so that the council can get some revenue instead of returning the goods after fining the owner who will continue to abuse the rules and regulations.
