Nearly half of Margao traders lack valid licences

The chairperson of the Margao Municipal Council, Damodar Shirodkar, announced that about 45% of traders in Margao are operating without valid trade licences. This issue is mainly due to outdated leave and licence agreements between shop owners and their tenants. Shirodkar mentioned that many applications for trade licences cannot be processed because of this lack of proper agreements. The council is looking for legal solutions to resolve the situation. This announcement comes amid criticism over recent increases in municipal taxes and fees. The Congress party has accused Margao MLA Digambar Kamat of being involved in these changes. However, Shirodkar clarified that Kamat had no influence in the decision to raise taxes. He explained that the council compared fees from other municipalities in Goa to set their rates. They aimed to avoid putting too much financial strain on the public. The MMC has significant operational costs, spending about Rs 2.5 crore every month just on salaries, plus Rs 50 lakh for vehicle and office expenses. The issue of unlicensed trading emerged soon after the Congress party opposed the tax hikes, citing increases of 50% to 500%. Shirodkar noted that the last tax hike by the MMC occurred in 2004. He stated that the recent increase was necessary for the council to generate revenue and support local businesses while ensuring regulatory compliance.