Goemkarponn desk
VASCO: Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) decided to initiate stringent actions to recover its pending outstanding and started to seal shops in the Municipal Market.
MMC Chief Officer Jayant Tari, MMC Chairperson Leo Rodrigues and staff went to the market and started to seal shops which had not paid dues to the MMC, and a total of around 6 to 7 shops were sealed during the drive
MMC Chairperson Leo Rodrigues speaking to the media, said that MMC would take strict measures to recover the outstanding and urged the people to pay the outstanding before the MMC takes action.
“MMC has started to seal shops that have taken us for granted and ignored our notices and warnings. The shops are municipal shops, but the owners have expired, and these shops have been sublet on rent without paying us any transfer fees. We had sent them notices 15 days in advance asking them to meet us and pay their fees which they ignored,” he said.
The shop owners have not paid their dues, and we have sealed their shops.
“I request all the shopkeepers to pay our fees, or else we will seal their shops if required, even without prior notice. MMC cannot afford such an attitude where shops are run without a license or paying taxes due to us, and we have sent notices to around 70 shops, and we will seal their shops if the money is not paid. We have to recover our outstanding because MMC is lacking funds, and we have salaries to pay, and this is one of the stringent options that we will adopt to recover our outstanding,” said Rodrigues.
“We are not against any business, and I am also a businessman, but we have to pay taxes, take trade licence, pay for boards and be systematic so that the business also flourishes while MMC does not trouble the shopkeeper. We are clear that our recovery is paid, or we will go to any extreme extent and not spare anyone to seal their shops. As a chairperson of the MMC, it is my responsibility to recover the due and every time we go to the Government for support, they tell us to recover our outstanding and this drive will continue,” said Rodrigues
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