MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) drive with regards to recovery of taxes has revealed that hundreds of traders have been conducting business without trade licence for the last many years.
Taking serious note of this, the civic body has issued show cause notices to several traders, and directed them to apply for the trade licence at the earliest to avoid legal action.
MMC chairperson Lyndon Pereira and chief officer Agnelo Fernandes have warned the traders that the civic body will not tolerate such illegalities and will not hesitate in sealing their premises.
The Chief Officer has deployed nearly 25 staff for recovering taxes, which include house taxes, besides taxes from shopkeepers and few pertaining to renewal of the trade licences. During the course of recovery, it was revealed that several vendors are running their businesses in the State’s commercial capital without a trade licence and other necessary documents.
One of the officials said they have identified over 150 vendors/shopkeepers operating without a trade license. They don’t even possess legal documents such as valid lease agreements.
MMC chief officer Agnelo Fernandes said it is shocking to know that hundreds of vendors are doing business without trade licence, and it appears that they are taking the civic body for a ride.
“We will initiate action against such vendors who are conducting business without licence. Further action will be taken, if they fail to apply for the trade licence”, he warned.
It is pertinent to note that the Margao civic body is facing a shortage of funds even to pay the salaries of its staff and daily wage workers. Adding to its woes, the vendors appear to be least bothered in applying for the trade licence to carry out legal business in Margao.
Lyndon Pereira said such establishments need to be sealed immediately.
“The number of vendors operating in the Margao municipal jurisdiction without a trade licence is unacceptable. This is a serious issue and the council will surely initiate action against such vendors”, he warned.
The chairperson said the Council will adopt a resolution in these regard if needed.
At present the number of traders operating without a trade licence is just the tip of the iceberg. Sources said the traders running business illegally are from the areas surrounding the New Market. The recovery team deployed by the civic body is yet to reach out to the other areas in Margao and Fatorda, as the drive will expose more traders operating without trade licenses in the coming days.
