Addressing media persons at Ponda, the Ponda Market Shed Vendors Association leader Kishore Mamlekar along with office bearers and about 400 vendors said though PMC had resolved to auction the Sopo contract for the new fiscal year 2015-16, they would not pay the Sopo tax to the contractor, as PMC had failed to settle the Sopo issue for 2014-15.
“There is a fraud in awarding the contract by the BJP-supported council and despite the contractor’s failure to pay Sopo instalments, the PMC did not forfeit the Sopo contract,” said Mamlekar.
Mamlekar further said the new chief officer, who recently took charge, had visited the market and had found that outside shed vendors were paying Rs 12,900 per day.
He further said though PMC had reduced Sopo from Rs 20 to 12 (market shed) and Rs 10 to 6 (open air), their association had insisted on the reduction of Sopo to Rs 5.
“The Sopo tax issue had been taken to the High Court to seek justice for the exorbitant Sopo hike from Rs 5 to 20. The High Court had directed the DMA to arrive at a suitable solution, before approaching the high court in the matter,” Mamlekar said.
The vendors have also demanded the abolition of the Sopo tax and the implementation of the Street Vendors Act from the New Year as per the Central government law.
