Team Herald
MARGAO: Margao Municipal Council (MMC) on Tuesday sealed two business premises for not complying with the laws of registration but failed to explain why they are treating the Pantaloon showroom at Osia Commercial Arcade with kids-gloves.
MMC Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik disclosed that the council sealed Archies Gallery and an ACC cement shop in the Guru Sai Building. The ACC shop was functioning without trade licence and has not paid house tax; besides, it was sub-let from a person who reportedly purchased the premises from the original owners.
As for Archies Gallery, they had failed to show the ownership document despite repeated requests and further pointed out that while the trade licence was to sell shoes there was not a single shoe on display in the shop.
However, Naik could not answer why no action has been taken against Pantaloon showroom that has been functioning for nearly two years without a trade licence and without a fire safety licence from the fire services.
Although the chief officer said that Pantaloon showroom has been asked to submit the fire safety report, he would not specify the time within which Pantaloon showroom has been asked to produce that certificate. Meanwhile, Naik admitted that nobody can carry out business without trade license, but could not explain how Pantaloon has been functioning for so long without trade licence.
