The All Goa FMCG & Telecom Distributors Association has extended its support to Margao traders who are demanding the abolition of the 'sopo' (occupation fee) collected from goods transport vehicles by the Margao Municipal Council (MMC).
Traders' grievances over sopo collection
Traders have been complaining that individuals claiming to be authorised 'sopo collectors' levy charges from goods transport vehicles entering the market to unload goods. In a representation to the South Goa district collector on April 20, businessman Prabhav Naik stated that no explicit statutory provision, rule, notification, or by-law empowers any authority to collect such fees. He argued that traders already pay trade licence fees and municipal taxes, while transporters are subject to road tax under the motor vehicles framework, making this an unlawful additional exaction. Naik's representation has been marked to the chief minister, urban development minister, PWD minister, MLAs of Fatorda and Curtorim, and the MMC chief officer.
Association's stance and alleged harassment
Several traders and businessmen, as well as office-bearers of the FMCG association, have described instances of alleged harassment and questioned the MMC's legal authority to impose sopo. The association pointed out that no comparable mechanism exists in any other municipality, calling the system 'unjust.'
Call for collective action
Businessman Chirag Naik, who has been raising the issue with civic authorities for two years without result, struck a defiant note. 'Sopo collection is bullying, and the only way to counter it is to stand up to it collectively,' he said. 'Writing letters to civic authorities has yielded nothing. Enough of complaints, what we need now is a public movement. I appeal to all Madgaonkars to stop paying sopo — we will bear the consequences.'
