'Sopo' stir: Ponda market vendors observe total bandh

Ponda: With no solution in sight to the ongoing imbroglio, Ponda market vendors observed a 'bandh' on Wednesday, protesting the four-fold hike in 'sopo' tax tariff by the Ponda municipal council (PMC). The agitation has demanded an inquiry in the 'sopo' tax auction through the vigilance department.
Except the shops inside the PMC's market complex, all the vendors operating from market sheds and at open spaces observed a total 'bandh'.
As a part of the protest, several vendors and hawkers camped near the entrance of the upper bazaar market originally known as 'Budhwar Peth'. Sporting a banner and several placards with the text alleging scam in the 'sopo' tariff hike, the protesters shouted slogans against the PMC.
The banner had a text alleging corruption of Rs 1,38,30,000 in the 'sopo' tax tender. Claiming the 'sopo' tendering ought to have got an amount over Rs 1,84,40,000, the banner differentiated the upset bid and actual amount received through auction in fiscal years 2012-2013 and 2013-2014; While, the placards were demanding inquiry by vigilance department.
Alleging the recent hike in 'sopo' tax tariff was unacceptable, several vendors have been opposing it by refraining themselves from paying it. "While, the agitation has been going on for last several weeks through non-payment of 'sopo', holding rallies and meetings, etc, neither the PMC nor government tried to resolve the issue, we have to take the last step of 'bandh', the protestors have claimed.
A rally was also taken out from Upper Bazaar to PMC which was supported by workers' union CITU, which culminated in a public meeting opposite the PMC. While speaking at the meeting, vendors' leader Kishore alias Manikrao Mamlekar said that the chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who had earlier assured the PMC to resolve the issue in two days, was asking the vendors to wait for another two months.
CITU leader Anand Betkikar said the PMC cannot remove the vendors and hawkers for non-payment of 'sopo' tax. As per Supreme Court directives, vendors or hawkers can pay the 'sopo' of a month in a lumpsum at one time.
John Mascarenhas, another leader of the vendors, thanked the son of the PMC chairperson for supporting the strike by keeping his chicken shop in the market closed.