TEAM HERALD
PONDA: In a desperate bid to get the authorities to rollback the controversial Sopo tax, the agitating Ponda vendors turned to divine intervention and on Thursday sought the intercession of Lord Ganesh which has been installed by them in the market.
Ponda vendors’ leader Kishore Mamlekar along with other vendors offered ‘Garane’ (prayers) before the Ganesh idol installed by them at Budhwarpeth Market Ganeshotav Mandal.
Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) had initiated action against the vendors through the market inspector, who lodged a police complaint against them for causing obstruction during the collection of Sopo tax in the market.
Acting on the complaint, police filed a petition before the Additional Collector at Panjim for necessary action against the vendors and some of them have been summoned before the latter at Panjim for hearing on September 18.
When contacted, Ponda MLA Lavu Mamledar said Sopo tax was illegally hiked by Ponda Municipal Council.
“If the government can help mining-affected people by spending crores of rupees, why can’t the hiked Sopo tax be rolled back in the interest of the vendors? The Sopo tax in the Ponda market should be abolished by the government in the interest of the vendors,” he observed.
Stating that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is presently out of the State, Mamledar said he would try and convene a meeting of vendors with the chief minister to resolve the issue.
