MARGAO: Several fish sellers have alleged that that were being extorted by authorities in the name of sopo at that Margao wholesale fish market.
Wholesale fish traders on Monday informed the media that they were asked to cough out Rs 200 after every vehicle by the sopo contractor engaged by Margao Municipal Council as they were collecting empty fish crates outside the wholesale market.
The furious traders charged that this has been going on for over a fortnight while the civic body remained a mute spectator despite the issue being brought to the notice of the Chief Officer.
Prabhakar Naik, a wholesaler, claimed that Goa is the only state where maximum taxes levied against traders as compared to the other states.
“We are already paying fees to the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) on an hourly basis however, several of our traders were shocked when they were charged Rs 200 by a contractor and that too for just keeping vehicles outside the market complex,” he stated.
He further said that after the business hours, traders have to lift the empty crated lying outside the compound wall and at that moment the sopo contractor comes and extracts money, which is totally unfair.
“A few days before I had brought this issue to the notice of the Chief Officer and had demanded to stop the same. But, it continues and fish traders are at loss. This is total extortion,” said Shaikh Zahid, General Secretary (GS), Wholesale Fish Traders Association.
Zahid said that the issue pertaining to the wholesale fish market is in the High Court, wherein the SGPDA and other concerned authorities have failed to keep the market clean and despite the same MMC is harassing the traders.
