Goa, Aug. 26 -- Providing a major relief to Matoli vendors, the State government on Monday issued a notification exempting them from paying sopo (market fee) at Ganesh Chaturthi bazaars.

Speaking to reporters at the Mantralaya in Porvorim, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant acknowledged that while the official directive was slightly delayed, it has now been issued.

Sawant had earlier announced during the recently concluded State Legislative Assembly session that panchayats and municipalities would be instructed not to collect sopo fees from these vendors. However, due to the absence of a formal written communication, sopo collections had continued in most areas.

Subsequently, the Department of Urban Development issued a circular instructing ...