QUEPEM: The Curchorem-Cacora Municipal Council in a bid to resolve the long pending issue of non-payment of dues by shopkeepers at the CADA complex offered to let the pending payments be made in instalments.
As this matter is pending for many years, Council Chairperson Pradeep Naik along with the Chief Officer Manohar Karekar inspected the market complex along with other officials. While warning the shopkeepers of strict action if they do not start paying the rent dues for many years, they however agreed to let them make the payment in instalments.
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The chairperson disclosed that the council has sent notices twice to the shopkeepers who have not paid their dues and admitted that the council has to receive around Rs 16 lakh as rent from these shopkeepers.
“While we are not receiving the rent from the shopkeepers, the repairs to the CADA hall has cost us over Rs one crore,” he said while pointing out the difficulties faced by the council.
He admitted that some shops appear to be not operating though they are taken on rent and asserted that the council will be forced to take stern action if the shopkeepers do not start paying the rent soon.
“There are many people willing to run business at this market,” he said indicating that if the shopkeepers do not start paying the rent, they would be leased out to new comers while adding that fresh agreements will increase the revenue accruing to the municipality.
It appears that the purpose of the inspection was merely to identify shops which are not operating so that cancelling their agreement and giving them to new comers can begin. The Chief Officer said the municipality will proceed as per the laid down laws and act as necessary if the shopkeepers continue to ignore the notices sent to them.
