MARGAO: Taking example of the action taken by Mapusa Municipal Council, now Margao Municipality has warned of sealing the business establishments operating under its jurisdiction without trade licences or any other mandatory No Objection Certificates.
According to Margao Municipal Council Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes, the MMC has resolved to get strict with such serious offenders.
On Tuesday, the Chief Officer has also issued directions to the Taxation Section of the civic body to submit the report of business establishments operating without trade licences and other NOCs within the period of 10 days.
“During the tax repayment drive, several business establishments were issued notices and October 31 was kept as the deadline to submit the necessary documents to the MMC,” he informed.
Further, the CO said, “It is now observed that the earlier deadline which ran through the Diwali break was not strictly adhered to, the Taxation Section of MMC has been asked to draw a detailed report of such businesses operating without necessary documents, permissions within 10 days.”
He further said that businesses run through dubious means and not authorised by necessary MMC regulations will be treated as unlawful, illegal and against the business guidelines of the civic body and hence will be dealt with severely following the ground report received by the Taxation Section after their visits to these businesses.
“Neither the Taxation Section nor the MMC can monitor such illegal businesses regularly nor it is mandatory on those conducting such illegal businesses to come forward and avoid any further unfortunate incident for the MMC as well as those involved in conducting unauthorised businesses within the MMC’s jurisdiction,” Agnelo stated.
The CO has cited that the Taxation Section has reported a drop in tax payments and hence it might impact the MMC during the next salary round by December 2021.
He has also warned that the Taxation Section is more or less aware who are the offenders and who is owing to the MMC what amounts and are yet conducting business as usual.
The Chief Officer has asked the Taxation Section to be strict and on its feet to tackle this menace that is bleeding the MMC coffers.
Meanwhile, in another notice issued by Agnelo, the civic body has directed to submit the details of tenant verification forms including Aadhaar Cards of the agencies involved in engaging the contract workers to maintain checks on the workers from safety and security point of view.
Reportedly, two days before Herald had highlighted the issue of workers engaged in door to door garbage collection who are involved in lifting the valuable goods and other items from the households, besides waste.
The CO stated that during the recently held ordinary meeting of the council many councillors have raised the issue pertaining to thefts in the wards and alleged that workers engaged in door to door garbage collections are involved in it.
“Since the councillors voice serious concern over the matter, all the agencies working for the council are directed to submit the details of tenant verification forms of the agencies involved in engaging the contract workers to maintain checks on the workers,” he further stated.
