While CO Johnson Fernandes could not answer their questions, Mamledar claimed that the he had tried his best to settle the issue and that the blame lay with the government. He also alleged that the six ruling councillors of the PMC were acting highhandedly and not cooperating in the matter.
The vendors claimed that Mamledar had asked them to deposit the sopo fees with the PMC, and in return, he would ensure that the PMC resolved the issues of sopo rates, footpath vendors, gutter problems and widening of passages.
Ponda market leader Kishore Mamlekar stated that the vendors had been collecting the sopo fees and depositing it with PMC; they had paid around Rs 9 lakh for the last few months. However, the PMC did not resolve any of the vendors’ problems.
The vendors have decided to stop paying the sopo until Mamledar and Fernandes inspect the market and resolve all issues, especially the sopo issue.
Mamledar admitted that he could not resolve the sopo issue, but he added that he had raised the issue at the Assembly in 2012 and was even against collecting sopo from the market vendors. The sopo went towards the lifting of garbage from the market.
One-and-a-half years ago, the PMC resolved to increase the sopo rates from Rs 5 to Rs 20 per sq mts for market shed vendors. It was later reduced to Rs 12 for market shed vendors and Rs 6 for open market vendors. However, the vendors did not agreed with these rates.
“I had even filed a complaint of corruption with the Vigilance Department over the sopo contract. Many years ago, when the sopo rate was Rs 3 per sq mts, the contract was awarded for around Rs 65 lakhs. When the rate was increased to Rs 20 per one-and-a-half years ago, the contract was awarded for around Rs 70 lakh,” said Mamledar.
He also stated that the BJP government is not respecting the MGP, who is its alliance partner. He alleged that major projects of the Public Works Department had been given to Goa Small industries Development Corporation to curtail the importance of PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar.
A large police force was later deployed to the Mamledar’s office to maintain law and order.
