Goemkarponn desk
MAPUSA: After facing flak, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has finally decided to withdraw the proposed hefty hike in parking fees and garbage tax.
A customer who was charged Rs 60 for parking at the taxi stand protested about the significant increase, pointing out that he had only paid Rs 20 for the same area days ago, which brought the dispute to light.
MMC Chairperson explained that when the contractor’s term ended on March 31, the council decided to stick with the prior pricing schedule, and municipal employees were in charge of collecting fees.
Still unknown, though, was the reasoning behind the Rs 60 charge. “The taxation department will have to explain the increase in the fee structure,” the MMC Chairperson stated.
The Chief Officer referred questions about the charge increase to the Accounts Taxation Officer and blamed it on the addition of GST to pay parking costs.
In the meantime, municipal employees declined to collect parking fines from customers on due to the developing uproar.
Both customers and council members are calling for the MMC to be held accountable and transparent about the sudden increase in pay parking costs.
