PANJIM: The State government has kept in abeyance the recently-notified Goa Municipalities (Amendment) 2020, ordinance, a day after the All Goa Merchants Association announced they would strike across all municipal areas.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the aggrieved merchants that the ordinance will not be implemented till they submit to the government suggestions and objections. The association, content with the assurance, has decided to withdraw the strike originally scheduled on January 7.
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“We will not implement it (Ordinance) until you are satisfied with the amendment to the municipalities ordinance. We are keeping it on hold. You submit your views, suggestions and objections,” the CM said during a meeting with the association members.
Sawant, while giving a patient hearing to the merchants and explaining them the amendments, assured the merchants that government had taken this decision to safeguard the interest of all the Goan businessmen.
“Our approach is business friendly and people-friendly. However, we will not implement the notification till you all submit your views,” he reiterated at the meeting, also attended by Urban Development Minister Milind Naik, ex-MP Narendra Sawaikar, ex-MLA Damu Naik and BJP President Sadanand Shet Tanavade.
Upon the assurance from the CM, the association quickly withdrew the proposed strike. “The CM has explained that the amendment is to benefit us,” said a member of the association. The merchants are likely to submit their suggestions and objections on the amendments, to the government, within a month.
Earlier in the day, Minister Michael Lobo suggested rethinking about the amendment to the ordinance stating stakeholders need to be taken into confidence before implementing it.
The association, on Sunday had termed the ordinance as “draconian” and announced they would shut shops across all 11 municipal areas on January 7, to demand its withdrawal.
The Goa Governor had recently promulgated the Ordinance, which seeks to regularise unauthorised possession of municipal shops and thereby generate revenue to the council, and to limit the lease period of shops to ten years and thereafter auction the same.
