PONDA: The Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) sealed a showroom located on Bethora Road for operating without obtaining a trade licence from PMC. The action followed a final order issued by the Chief Officer after a series of hearings on the matter.
Municipal Engineer Vishant Naik stated that the showroom owner had failed to secure a trade licence and a house number for the premises, despite being directed to do so by the PMC. The issue came to light following a complaint filed by a citizen, which was pursued by John Mascarenhas on behalf of the complainant.
Mascarenhas reported that the construction of the building commenced in 2022, during which a complaint was initially filed. The PMC had granted temporary permission on the condition that no business activities would take place. However, when the showroom started operating recently without proper documentation, a new complaint was filed against the ground plus one building where the bike showroom was operating.
The Chief Officer’s final hearing concluded that the business had been operating without obtaining the necessary permissions or licences, violating Section 265 of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968, and the Trade and Licencing Bye-Laws, 1989. The permission for the structure expired on June 6, 2024, and the owner failed to produce any relevant documents or permissions for both the business and the structure.
“Despite being given seven working days to produce the necessary permissions and having 11 months’ time, the applicant failed to provide the required documents. The business was operating in blatant violation of all municipal laws, said the CO’s order.
The Municipal Inspectors of the Council were directed to enforce the sealing, under the supervision of the Municipal Engineer.
