MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has cracked the whip on the shops operating without trade licences in Margao town, wherein the municipal engineer and his market team sealed at least five shops in Pajifond and Malbhat area for not possessing trade licence.
The Margao Municipal Council Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes has issued the order to take action against the shops operating without trade licences.
Shops in Margao commercial areas like Malbhat and Pajifond were sealed until further notice by the team of MMC. Sensing trouble several shops around the areas shut down operations and a number of shops on the Margao streets remained closed in the evening.
Engineer Abhay Rane said that it is difficult to quantify how many shops don’t posses trade licences.
It may be recalled that the MMC had started a trade licence acquisition special drive for the traders who are non-compliant. The drive received poor response and now this is the next step of the MMC.
The Engineer informed that the drive to seal the shops that lack trade licences would continue.
The MMC has also said that shops having trade licences are mandated to display them at the shop. This has been advised to make sure minimum trouble is given to the people who are compliant to the licences.
The Engineer has also informed that the penalties for the shops now sealed will be decided by the MMC.
Meanwhile, Shadow Council for Margao has welcomed the action of the municipality of sealing illegal shops in the town.
“Since the Shadow Council for Margao and Loyal Taxpayers of Margao have been consistently demanding that illegal trade establishments in Margao should be brought under the tax net, we sincerely congratulate the MMC for the drive in which 10 establishments were sealed. Our special congratulations to the Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes, for this bold initiative,” said President of SCM Savio Coutinho adding that he also expects the MMC to simplify the process of issuing trade licence.
