TEAM HERALD
PONDA: The usual hustle and bustle was missing at the Ponda market on Wednesday, as all shops and stalls were shut down due to the day-long protest by vendors opposed to the hiked Sopo tax enforced by the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC).
The protesting vendors have decided to intensify their agitation and refrain from paying the Sopo tax till the PMC rolls it back from Rs 20 to the earlier rate of Rs 5.
In a desperate bid to diffuse tension and resolve the issue, PMC Chairperson Radhika Naik said the PMC had met Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at the Secretariat late Wednesday evening and had apprised him of the issue.
A large police force was deployed throughout the day to prevent any law and order problem. People were the worst hit as fish and vegetable markets were shut down, while motorcycles and rickshaws were also affected by lack of business. Shortly after the vendors shut down their business at the market in the morning, they gathered at the market road shouting slogans against the PMC.
Addressing a gathering of protesting vendors, Adv Jatin Naik appealed to the vendors to form a union to fight against injustice meted out to poorer sections of society.
Adv Dalmon Pereira said the hiked Sopo tax was not only a burden on the vendors, but also people of Ponda, as they would be have to buy essential commodities at hiked rates. He blamed the government for failing to resolve the issue.
Social worker, Swati Kerkar alleged that the chief minister had failed to honour his promises.
The vendors thanked human rights and RTI activist John Baptist for providing necessary documents pertaining to the Sopo issue. The vendors also opposed the chief minister’s solution to roll back Sopo from Rs 10 to Rs 8 and Rs 20 to Rs 15. Later, the vendors staged a large rally to the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) shouting slogans against the hiked Sopo tax. The rally ended with the traditional fugdi in front of the PMC building. According to sources, none of the councillors turned up at the PMC office due to the presence of the agitating vendors.
PMC Chief Radhika Naik said the CM has assured to study the issue and arrive at a decision within a day or two.
