Team Herald
MARGAO: The Shadow Council for Margao (SCM) has demanded an inquiry into the disappearance or shortfall of Rs 10 to 12 lakh from the revenue collected from the Margao feast fair held in May/June 2022.
Addressing media persons at Margao on Saturday, SCM Convener Savio Coutinho said that it was publicly declared at the time of the Old Market feast fair set up in May/June 2022, that the revenue collection from the fair was Rs 30 to 32 lakh. “However, now, when we obtained information under the RTI with respect to the revenue collected, the Council has stated that the total collection was only Rs 20,77,000 and nothing close to even Rs 30 lakh,” said Coutinho.
The breakdown of the Rs 20.7 lakh was given as follows: Rs 14,65,000 from stall rent, Rs 5,10,000 from stalls at the South Goa Planning and Development Agency (SGPDA) ground and Rs 1,00,000 from the ferris wheel and other rides.
Since 80 to 90 percent of this collection was in the form of cash, it is important for the council to verify and come clear on this issue, said the SCM. “A thorough inquiry is a must in this matter, and the shortfall has to be recovered
from those responsible, and deposited into
the Municipal treasury,” stressed Coutinho.
The Margao Municipal Council has found itself desperately knocking on the doors of taxpayers registered for house tax and trade licenses, for the recovery of dues, but has not bothered to include the net premises that are not assessed for house tax/trade licenses, added Coutinho.
Further, nearly Rs one crore is yet to be
recovered from the sopo tax contractors.
“Huge amounts are recoverable through bounced cheques and expired bank guarantees furnished by the sopo contractors. However, on account of the nexus between the Council and the sopo contractors, absolutely no efforts are being made to recover this money,” alleged Coutinho.
He said that it would not be appropriate to blame any one particular civic body leader for shielding the defaulting sopo contractors from necessary action, and that it is not just one contractor who has defaulted, either.
“The fact that none of the leaders favour action for recovery of the outstanding dues from the sopo contractors clearly establishes that all leaders have vested interests in their
respective sopo contractors,” alleged Coutinho.
