Team Herald
PONDA: Ponda Muncipal Council (PMC) on Friday, in its monthly meeting, decided to reduce trade license fees for shops following the demand of the shop owners. The Ponda Businessmen and Professional Forum had also recently submitted memorandum and demanded reduction in the fees at backdrop in view of the losses they suffered during COVID-19 pandemic.
PMC had earlier hiked the trade license fees from Rs 500 to 5000 for some businesses, such as pathology labs, jewelry shops, pharmacies among others.
Speaking to media after meeting, PMC Chairperson Ritesh Naik said it was also decided to auction marker sopo tax collection within next few days. It was also decided provide new accommodation to people residing in 16 flats of unsafe municipal building at Shantinagar. He said unsafe 50 years old buildings in Ponda will be replaced by new constructions.
It was also resolved to demand government share of octroi tax collection from petrol pump. Earlier it was great source of income for PMC as that used to help clearing various expenses, salaries of staff.
PMC resolved to extend lease agreement of land with Defense Ministry's 6 TTR camp at Ponda for another 3 years. But before that PMC has decided to recover the Rs 6 lakh arrears from 6 TTR camp.