TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PONDA: The Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) on Tuesday decided to do away with Sopo system and to introduce annual vending fees, after forming a vendor registration committee to conduct a survey of vendors in Ponda town.
The process to collect fees directly from the vendors is expected to start from the next financial year, as PMC is in the process to conduct a survey of vendors in the city. Presently, Sopo fees are collected by a private contractor, whose contract ends in March 2014.
The vendor survey will be conducted by the Vendor Registration Committee headed by PMC Chairperson Dr Radhika Naik. The committee will be formed based on the Vendor Right Act constituted by the Central government.
“Under Vendors Rights Act, the committee appointed will conduct a survey of vendors and identify vending zones. Presently, PMC doesn’t have the number of vendors operating in its jurisdiction,” informed Chairperson Dr Naik.
“PMC has decided not to award Sopo collection tender and instead Sopo fees will be charged from the vendors directly. Vendors will be issued licenses once the vendor survey is done and accordingly yearly fees will be charged. The amount of fees will be decided later,” informed Dr Naik.
The decision to abolish Sopo fees collection tender was taken following verbal complaints from the vendors that contractors often charged hefty Sopo fees.
It may be recalled that PMC had awarded Sopo collection contract to a private party for Rs 52.91 lakh (April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014) and during the previous year, 2011-12, the Sopo contract was awarded for Rs 61.20 lakh.
