MARGAO: Buoyed by the success of what has now come to be known as the "direct approach diplomacy" of Margao municipal council's chief officer Prasanna Acharya in revenue recovery efforts, the MMC is now planning to devise a mechanism that will entail radical changes in trade licensing procedure.

Speaking to TOI on Monday, Acharya said that the certain shortcomings in the maintenance of records pertaining to the trade licensing by the MMC have led to the "unusually high figures" of recovery. He voiced his determination to streamline the process at the earliest.

While he declined to set a time frame to achieve his objectives, he hinted that the system could be operational by the next fiscal.

"Updating data and streamlining the procedure with regard to the issuance of trade license definitely ranks high among my priorities. We are considering revamping the system to ensure that no trade is conducted without obtaining the trade license from the MMC. This may entail devising a new mechanism and introducing new guidelines for applying for the trade license.

"The council will have to take a policy decision in this matter," Acharya said.