PONDA: The Ponda Market Vendors’ Association (PMVA) has approached the High Court, seeking rehabilitation of 93 market vendors who were promised stalls at the new market complex.
Addressing the press on Friday, market leader Kishore Mamlekar said that the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC), in 2009, assured to allot stalls at new market complex to the vendors after its completion.
The PMC had initiated the market complex work in 2009, and accordingly, the vendors in the old market were shifted to a temporary shed. However, around 93 vendors refused to shift and approached the court. They withdrew the petition after the PMC promised to provide them shops in new market; a resolution to this effect was also passed.
According to Mamlekar, the new market was completed in 2011, but the 93 vendors and even several vendors from the temporary shed had not been to the new market. He further said that the PMC, at a council meeting in March, resolved to shift all vendors to the new complex. As nothing had been done thereafter, PMVA decided to approach the court.
In the petition, PMVA, has also demanded that the vendors be charged rent of Rs 100 per sq mts per month, which is the rate set for shop owners presently operating on lease in new complex.
Mamlekar also stated that if there was no space for the vendors at the new market, they should be allowed to do business from the temporary shed where they are presently operating system and should be charged rent of less that Rs 100 as the shed lacks many facilities.
