TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Tension prevailed in Ponda town on Saturday when a large number of vendors resorted to a flash agitation by blocking the main road to protest against the Ponda Municipal Council’s (PMC) decision to impose the controversial revised sopo tax for the vendors.
Stepping up their protests, the agitating vendors have also decided to observe a market bandh on August 6. A police team rushed to the site to clear the highway, while Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar also went to the site to pacify the agitating vendors and stated that he had filed a complaint against the PMC with the vigilance department to inquire into the corruption by PMC in awarding the sopo tender.
Speaking to media persons, leader of the vendors, Kishore Mamlekar, accused the PMC of failing to resolve the revised sopo tax controversy, despite protests, public meetings and assurance by the chief minister to vendors.
“Despite our opposition to pay the hiked sopo tax, the PMC team is harassing the vendors to pay the controversial revised sopo tax. Today, the market inspector came to the market and removed the plastic covers which were installed to protect the vendors from the monsoon.”
“However, the market inspector did not carry an order of PMC directing him to remove the plastic covers. Unhappy over this arbitrary decision, the angry vendors agitated by resorting to a flash protest and blocked the main road,” he said.
In addition, the vendors have decided to observe a market bandh on August 6 to highlight the PMC’s failure to resolve the grievances of vendors and to demand the government’s intervention in the matter.
Speaking to media persons, Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar blamed the council for the mess and added that some members were involved in corruption.
“I have filed a complaint against the PMC with the vigilance department to inquire into the corruption by PMC in awarding the sopo tender. The sopo tax was hiked fourfold, but the sopo bid contract amount has remained the same compared to the previous three years,” said Mamledar.
