TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Despite various controversies surrounding the recently concluded Vasco Saptah, the festival was hugely profitable for the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC), as revenue from the Saptah jumped from Rs 13 lakh last year to Rs 21 lakh this year.
Speaking to Herald, MMC Chief Officer Y B Tavde said the council had collected Rs 20,69,598 by way of stall rent.
“The council had also received Rs 1.5 lakh by way of sale of licence forms of the Saptah stall. After deducting printing charges and other miscellaneous expenses, MMC earned a profit of Rs 50,000 from the sale of forms.” “Last year, the MMC had collected about Rs 13,24,150, while the collection in 2011 was lower,” informed Tavde.
When asked to explain the reason for the surge in collection this year, Tavde replied: “The MMC team, including market inspectors, clerks and other staff were working round the clock to keep a check on illegal stalls.”
“Checks and counter-checks were carried out by the staff during seven days of the Saptah fair. Earlier, the staff never used to collect rent from furniture stalls and there was no record about other stalls, which used to come up during seven days of the fair,” he said.
“But this year, the staff kept a strict check on each and every stall and collected rent right from toy and other small stalls to furniture stalls, due to which MMC could collect such a huge amount,” added Tavde.
MMC Chairperson Sumita Usgaonkar said due to streamlining of stalls, the collection shot up to about Rs 21 lakh, as compared to earlier years. “MMC’s decision to stick to the new plan to streamline stalls also helped to reap the benefit,” said Usgaonkar.
Vice Chairperson Shekar Khadapkar said though Saptah started on a controversial note, it had a profitable impact for the MMC. “There is always an opposition for any new proposals, but the end result was fruitful. It was a unanimous decision of the council to streamline and closely monitor the mushrooming of illegal stalls,” said Khadapkar, while adding that he was confident that MMC would try and increase its revenue to Rs 40 lakh next year.
