Team Herald
VASCO: The Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) on Thursday conducted surprise checks and found that most of the shops in New Vaddem were operating without obtaining valid trade licences and other necessary approvals.
Chairperson Girish Borker issued stern warning to traders asking them to obtain licences within next three days failing which the municipal council would seal the shops.
Borker said it was shocking that most of the shop owners and traders were operating without trade licence and some of them did not even know what a trade licence was.
“We started the drive from Shantinagar and within a span of 10 minutes, we realised that none of the shops had a valid trade licences. What was further surprising was that even the landlords renting out the premises had no lease agreements. This has caused considerable revenue loss to the cash-strapped municipality,” stated Borker.
As the drive was underway, several shopkeepers began shutting their shops and fleeing the area even as the chairperson warned them that the municipality would seal their premises within next three days if trade licence was not obtained by them. Borker said that the intention of the municipality was not to stop anyone from doing business but it was about ensuring that they operate legally and pay trade licence fees.
The Chairperson made it clear that the municipality will try to recover the revenue loss from the defaulters. “We won’t spare anyone and action will be initiated against the defaulters as per the law. This drive is an eye-opener and surprise checks will now be extended in all the municipal wards,” he said.