PRATIK PARAB
The South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) has been almost dormant but omnipresent as far as issuing of development permissions and other activities are concerned. However, they have been systematically ignoring their strong revenue areas, one of which is the SGPDA retail markets.
In its recent meeting the SGPDA has decided to take back all the unoccupied stalls in the vegetable markets and re-allot them afresh if necessary.
The SGPDA in its authority meeting decided the same. In the meeting discussion the SGPDA said the vegetable market alone has 300 shops leased to several people from different localities of Margao and Fatorda. The surprising part is that only 43 stalls are being occupied and have been fully paid up to the SGPDA in a perpetual lease. A deeper look into the allotment has revealed that nearly 80 to 100 stalls remain totally unoccupied in the market. Some have made part payment of the sopo and some have only been allotted and have neither used the stall nor paid any money.
The SGPDA Member Secretary Ashok Kumar said, “The stalls were allotted at an average price of Rs. 1.68 lakh to various persons back then. Considering the unoccupied and unpaid shops a lot of money to the tune of crores remains to be recovered and will be done now.”
Kumar also revealed that as part of their next course of action they will be sending notices to all the allotted persons. It is also been informed by the Authority that these shops have been unused since inception of the market in 2001 and has caused a major revenue loss.
The Authority members also inspected the market areas after the meeting. The SGPDA has already got all the non-vegetable seller entities removed from the market areas. There were several cassettes, CDs, belts and plastic goods sellers who had been sub let stalls.
Final notices will be sent to all the persons allotted stalls. This will let the persons decide whether to pay the money and retain the stall or to leave the same for new occupants. Sources have revealed that this part of the market may also go for renovation like the fish market side but has not been officially planned and revealed till date.
With nearly Rs 5 crores of the SGPDA still outstanding in form of sopos of market, the authority is now eyeing to take all its properties and generate much needed revenue for further development of the properties like the wholesale fish market and others.
The commercial capital of Goa has several small time vegetable vendors and sellers from the neighbouring talukas coming to sell their small produce. The vegetables and fruits which they sell are essentially organically grown. The organic varieties of fruits and vegetables may have earned an unprecedented demand. Sadly, Margao Municipal Council and the SGPDA have swiftly been ignoring these vendors for quite some time.
The Margao Municipal Council and the South Goa Planning and Development Authority, who is in control of the SGPDA Market place, now get a golden chance of accommodating these small time vegetable sellers.
