TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The thorny market shops issue will take some more time to be resolved with the inquiry officer purportedly asking for some time to submit his report, much to the chagrin of the Corporation of the City of Panjim mayor.
South Goa Collector N D Agrawal was appointed to inquire into the alleged irregularities in allotment of shops and vacant spaces in the capital’s new municipal market complex. His tenure was already extended once and the inquiry was supposed to have been received by May 30.
“If I don’t get it within the next 15 days I will appoint a retired judge to submit the report. All the documentation is ready, prepared by the commissioner, Sanjit Rodrigues,” Mayor Surendra Furtado told Herald today.
He said that he had not received any official intimation about any extension for submission of the report and was waiting for the report; but clarified that he had not received it till Saturday.
The 2005 shop allotment had been mired in controversy amidst allegations of irregularities by certain corporators from the ruling panel including the taking up of shops by them under Benami names. The CCP’s original list contained names of the traders who occupied kiosks in the old market and were supposed to get shops in the new market. But many did not get shops and even today there are allegations that the original allottees of the shops are not running the shops but have leased it out to others – apparently running a side business at the cost of the corporation that is loosing funds needed for the development of the city. Some of the original lessees have even apparently transferred their shops in the names of third parties. And transfer fees have also been paid to the CCP. This is not allowed by the rules, which do not permit transfers except in the case of blood relations.
Former Mayor Vaidehi Naik, in consultation with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had constituted an IAS officer headed inquiry committee. Naik had told media at that time that the CCP has accumulated massive arrears of over 1 crore on water and electricity bills from the market complex and was not receiving any revenue from the same. She had also said that the ownership of 146 shops had been transferred.
and over Rs 44 lakh had been collected as transfer fees. A market survey by the CCP had revealed that over 300 market tenants are involved in ‘irregular’ occupation.
Originally the committee was to be asked to complete its task by March 31, 2013.
Agrawal had begun his enquiry by issuing notices to 780 shop keepers that were returnable by April 3. Shopkeepers were asked to produce documents on their ownership rights and an inquiry against those unable to produce documents was threatened.
