TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: On the eve of the planned morcha by Margao’s New market traders on the Margao Municipality on Thursday, the civic body on Wednesday said the traders should clear arrears to the tune of Rs 3 crore for better amenities in the market, even as the latest figure has put the total outstanding arrears of the civic body to an whopping Rs 7.45 crore.
“Traders from the New market owe to the Margao Municipality around Rs 3 crore. Out of the total 570 outlets, there have been regular payments only from 69 traders,” MMC Chief Officer Deepali Naik said, while asking the New Market traders to make payments as per the notices.
Replying to a question, she said the civic body has not received any revenue from the civic body since 2007, adding that the traders have neither been paying the sopo nor the municipal rent.
“How can you expect better amenities and facilities when you neither pay rent nor sopo to the civic body? The financial health of the civic body is in a precarious condition. We want the New Market traders to also clear the arrears due to the municipality,” she added.
On the demand raised by the traders for a ban on sales and exhibition within the municipal limits, the chief officer said that Constitution guarantees every citizen to conduct business within norms. “When the Collector, Fire services, traffic Health and other authorities grant permission for the exhibitions, the Municipality cannot deny permission for the exhibitions,” she said, while underlying the need to regulate the exhibitions.
