Team Herald

PANJIM: The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has decided to approach the State government to waive off interest charges levied on the electricity bill, temporary connection of which was approved for Goa State Industrial Development Corporation’s (GSIDC) while constructing the municipal market, years ago. 

CCP owes the government about Rs 7.50 crore towards the electricity bill that includes compound interest, however, it will write the Electricity Department to share the payment of the billing amount between GSIDC and CCP.

“Out of the two electricity bills, one is in the name of GSIDC. It had taken temporary connection during construction. The meter charges in temporary connection are double. I have spoken to Commissioner (Ajit Roy) to write to GSIDC seeking information about when it took the temporary connection and when did it hand over the new municipal market to CCP. Accordingly, let the authorities divide the payment. CCP will pay whatever falls within its ambit,” Panjim Mayor Surendra Furtado said, addressing the Council during the ordinary corporation meeting on Tuesday. “We will pay but we will ask not to charge us interest and compound interest for no fault of ours,” he said. 

The Corporation also owes a separate bulk amount to the Electricity Department, which it suspects is due to tampering of power connection by some market vendors. “The electricity charges cannot be huge because the lights are usually switched off at around 9pm when the markets are closed for the day. Through the Commissioner, we will ask the department to investigate if there is any tampering in view of which, they can penalise/punish the violator,” Furtado added.

CCP has decided to illuminate the basement and the entrance of the market, through 15 fixtures provided by Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar. 

The Corporation has also raised concern over the refusal to sign the leave & license agreement by the market vendors. Furtado confirmed that the agreement has already been executed. “I am sending loud and clear message to the Panjim Municipal Market Tenants Association that we are not against anyone carrying out their business. But to run the business, you pay us rent. We keep the market clean, paint the market, fix lights and fans which are not in working condition, etc. Everyone should come and sign the documents. Which force is stopping them?” he questioned, while asking the illegal tenants to enter into the agreement.   

With the High Court of Bombay at Goa monitoring the issue, CCP is waiting to see how it goes. “This will not last for long (referring to refusal by tenants on signing the leave and license agreement) because the high court is monitoring the matter every three months,” Furtado added.