MARGAO: Controversy continues to surround the wholesale fish market over how the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) is handling sopo collection.
After the high drama that was witnessed on Wednesday, where the SGPDA Board led by Chairman Wilfred ‘Babashan’ D’Sa decided to allot the sopo collection contract to Milagres Fernandes, there was heavy police protection at the market on Thursday.
It may be recalled that the sopo collection had stopped briefly after the expiry of the December 27 deadline that had been given to the SGPDA by the High Court for Fernandes to collect the sopo fees.
On Thursday, collection of sopo fees resumed albeit under protest from the wholesale fish vendors.
The vendors, who had earlier vowed not to pay fees to Fernandes and had approached the High Court regarding the grievances against Fernandes, had recently submitted two bids to the SGPDA where they proposed to take over the sopo collection.
As per their first proposal, they would pay the SGPDA Rs 15 lakh per month in advance for the sopo collection.
The SGPDA Board however on Wednesday accepted Fernandes’ bid of Rs 15.5 lakh and refused to consider the second bid of the wholesale fish traders, which was of Rs 17 lakh per month.
What has left the wholesale traders enraged is how the SGPDA refused to inward their second bid which was submitted before the SGPDA bid could take place.
Moreover, the High Court had directed that the SGPDA should not continue with Fernandes, which the wholesale fish traders have pointed out to.
Maulana Irbahim, president of the Wholesale Fish Traders Association has filed a contempt of court petition before the High Court and a hearing in this regard has been fixed for next week.
The traders also point out that as per the HC direction, a new tender process was to be initiated and the new contractor had to be appointed via tender and not direct allotment.
The traders countered the claims made by D’Sa that all decisions taken were on board.
The traders further questioned the wisdom behind the SGPDA agreeing to accept a lower bid and lose out on more revenue that the Authority would earn.
