PONDA: Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) on Wednesday once again invited the wrath of vendors after it tried to rebuild a section of its damaged compound wall that would obstruct operations of a vegetable vendor based in a private property facing the PMC area. This move according to vendors was taken by PMC to target vendors as they refused to pay sopo tax in the morning.
A PMC team led by the market inspector under police protection reached the market at around 3 p.m to rebuild the wall but was obstructed by vendors who termed the action as revenge. Vendors, who gathered near the vegetable kiosk, unanimously pledged to fight the ‘injustice’ and requested the government authorities to give them two days to shift the kiosk.
Naik, who possessed a copy of the PMC order to execute the fencing work showed it to the vendors but they persisted their protest against the fencing be what may. Police inspector C L Patil intervened in the matter and took an undertaking from the vendor that he will shift the kiosk within four days. However, the vendor has requested the PMC officials to set shop in municipal jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, leader of the vendors Manikrao Mamlekar who was present at the spot told mediapersons that they had met the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who has asked the DMA to resolve the sopo issue. He also said that the DMA had sought three days time to work out a plan on paying monthly fees directly to the PMC rather than paying sopo. Mamlekar also told that the Ponda MLA Lavu Mamledar was also present for the meeting.