Ponda Market Vendors Association has expressed strong resentment over collection of Sopo tax by municipal inspector and two workers on behalf of the contractor since the last two days. In a letter to the chief officer of Ponda Municipal Council (PMC), the vendors stated that PMC is misusing its staff for private fund collection. “The contractor is supposed to employ his own staff to collect Sopo tax as per the contract with PMC and such an act is illegal on part of PMC,” stated the letter. The vendors claimed that the Sopo contractor also collects Sopo tax from some market vendors. They reminded the PMC of their rally at Panjim and memorandum to CM to abolish the Sopo.
They have also demanded that the Vigilance Department should inquire in what they charge is a big Sopo scam.
