PANJIM: The Goa State Agricultural Marketing Board has decided to impose hefty fines for the traders who do not register or pay requisite fees for import or export of agricultural produce.
As notice issued by HS Gawade, Secretary, Goa State Agricultural Marketing Board states, “Notice is hereby given to all the traders of the Goa Agricultural Marketing Board, dealing in agricultural notified commodities such as coconut, coconut oil, betelnut, cashewnut, banana, potatoes, onion, pineapple, papaya, chikoos, oranges, chillies, grapes, brinjals, sweet potatoes, milk, ghee, butter, cattle, mosambi, mangoes, poultry, eggs, flowers, apples, barley, and watermelon are hereby informed that the market fee is being collected on arrivals at notified check posts of Mollem, Pollem, Dhargal, and Keri and at head office in Margao main yard, Arlem, Raia, Salcete and all yard offices located at Ponda, Sanquelim, Mapusa, Curchorem, Canacona and Valpoi for areas under their respective jurisdictions.”
It states that instances have come to the notice of marketing board that some traders are dealing illegally without obtaining required registration as provided under the provision of Sections 51 of the Goa Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development & Regulation) Act, 2007 thereby evading the market fee on the above mentioned notified commodities.
“In order to have effective regulation the marketing Board has constituted flying squad to detect such illegal trade and recover of fees thereon,” the notice reads.
Further, it reads, “It is therefore envisaged upon all the traders dealing in notified commodities shall pay the required market fee at the check post or its sub office while importing notified commodities in the State of Goa, failing which the penalty /fine which shall be five times of the market fee payable shall be imposed on the concerned trader.”
The notice states that the traders, who are trying to move/export notified commodities outside Goa State without the required authorisation/permit and without payment of requisite market fee, shall be fined with five times of the market fee payable on such notified commodities.
