MARGAO: A street vendor selling plastic furniture near the Trinity Church, Benaulim alleged that the panchayat’s sopo collector came with two other men and threatened to beat him up if he fails to pay Rs 100 as sopo. He claimed that the name of the sopo collector is Vicky (Bhiky).
Interestingly, another vendor who had placed over 100 plastic chairs along the road at Dando ground, Benaulim also claimed to have paid Vicky Rs 100 as sopo fees. However, both the vendors, natives of Madhya Pradesh, claimed that they were not given any receipt and at the same time admitted having no permission from the panchayat to sell the plastic furniture along the road.
Interestingly, panchayat sources informed that this time the panchayat is collecting the sopo directly and not through a contractor and that’s the reason the revenue collection has been very low and has hired Vicky to collect sopo. The Sarpanch was not available for comments.
