Vendors claim 'un-fair' deal as CCP suddenly hiked rates after MMC’s whopping collection
A file photo of furniture vendors preparing to move from the Vasco Saptah fair to the Panaji Ashtami fair.
VASCO
People thronged the Saptah fair at Vasco and the Ashtami fair in Panaji in large numbers for special deals, but vendors participating at the two fairs felt the deal at the Panaji fair was hardly fair to them.
While the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) proudly announced it had collected a record Rs 98 lakh revenue from vendors at the 7-day Saptah Fair, vendors were in for a shock after having to shell out a huge fee at Panaji’s Ashtami fair.
Many vendors now believe the Vasco Saptah fair collection by MMC prompted the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) to raise the bar for vendors at its Ashtami fair.
Speaking to The Goan, a furniture vendor who moved from the Vasco Saptah fair to the Panaji Ashtami fair claimed the stall fees were escalated without prior notice.
Incidentally, despite the escalated price, the CCP failed to beat the MMC in terms of revenue collection. While MMC managed to collect Rs 98 lakh revenue from the 7-day Saptah fair, the CCP raked in Rs 90 lakh from its 12-day Ashtami fair from September 6 to 17.
‘UN-FAIR DEAL’
The vendor who moved from the Vasco fair to the Panaji fair said they became anxious as soon as the MMC announced to the media that its revised approach had enabled a whopping collection of Rs 98 lakh from vendors, that too, without providing any extension to the fair. The MMC had said this collection was higher than the usual Rs 60-70 lakh it would collect in previous years even after extending the duration of the fair.
“This ‘breaking news’ created a big problem for us. When this news broke out, it was obvious that CCP would also get competitive and expect more revenue than a municipal council,” said the vendor, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“The only way to get extra revenue would be to hike stall fees. We even told MMC Chairperson Girish Borker that news of his record collection had created a mess for us.”
As they feared, vendors were in for a shock the moment they proceeded to Panaji for the Asthami fair.
“We were informed at the last moment that the Ashtami Fair rates had shot up from the usual Rs 14,000 for a 5-mtr stall to a staggering Rs 64,000 for the same area. We had no option as we had already paid for the transport to take our furniture to Panaji.”
NEGOTIATIONS
The furniture vendor claimed they met Revenue Minister and Panaji MLA Babush Monserrate and explained their difficulties over the sudden fee hike.
“After negotiations, fees were reduced to around Rs 44,000 but we were not ready, and we almost decided not to participate in the fair. For a furniture stall, we need large space, and we are traditional artisans who take time to produce furniture we bring for sale,” said the vendor.
"We were in a fix. One the one hand, we would face losses if we were to return with our goods and we would also face losses if we paid such high fees. To make matters worse, we lost two days in deciding whether or not to participate in the fair.”
“Finally, we paid around Rs 37,500 for the remaining 10 days and participated in the fair for the 5x4 stalls. Had we known earlier about these hiked fees, we would never have prepared so much furniture. Once we brought the furniture to Panaji, we had no option. We want to clarify that the CCP did not harass us, but we were upset only because of the sudden hike in fees.”
“We now fear that other municipalities and panchayats may consider us as their new revenue generators and also hike fees for stalls in their jurisdiction," the vendor added.
‘MMC WAS FAIR’
When contacted, MMC Chairperson Girish Borker admitted that the Saptah furniture vendors had called him regarding the price hike of stalls at the Ashtami Fair.
A file photo of vendors at the recent Saptah in Vasco.
"We did generate a record revenue of Rs 98 lakh from the 7-day Saptah Fair but we did not harass any vendor, not did we increase the fees.
News of our recovery was highlighted in the media and vendors called me to say our news had affected them and that, they had to suddenly pay more at the Panaji fair,” said Borker.
“We don't burden furniture vendors at Saptah because they have been part of the fair for decades and we did not increase their rates. I am unsure how and why the CCP increased its rates, but many vendors felt it was because of the news of our record collection at the Saptah fair that the CCP raised fees at the Ashtami fair," said Borker.
