MMC shopkeepers not to pay rent arrears
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, AUG 20
Margao Municipal Council’s decision to hike the Municipal shop rent with retrospective effect has evoked strong objections from the New Market traders.
Agitated traders under the banner of Margao New Market Traders Association on Friday gheraoed Margao Municipal Chairperson Savio Coutinho over the notices served by the civic body proposing a hike in the Municipal rent of the new market stalls.
Led by Association President Vinod Shirodkar, the traders took strong exception to the decision by the civic body to implement the new rates with retrospective effect from 1997.
Shirodkar point blank told the Municipal Chairperson that the traders are willing to pay the 10 per cent hike in rent from the current financial year and firmly ruled out payment of any arrears of the last 10 years.
The traders contended that the poor traders will end up paying arrears to the tune of Rs 30,000 if the Civic body has its way in implementing the circular with retrospective effect”, he said.
He wondered why the Civic body is bulldozing its way on the eve of Municipal polls with the proposal when past Chairpersons and Chief Officers had failed in their endeavours. “We fail to understand why the Civic body is showing undue haste to recover the arrears and hike the rent”, he added. The MMC Chairperson later told newsmen that the Civic body has proposed a hike in the rent following a circular received from the government.
He said that the traders can make a representation to the Civic body on their inability to pay the arrears, saying the council will take an appropriate decision on the issue.
“We have issued notices on the traders as the Civic body want to assess rent. Whenever, we take some action, the traders come and stop the move. It is in the interest of the traders that they should allow the exercise”, Coutinho said, adding that their grievance of payment of arrears can be looked into by the Civic body.
Coutinho, however, lamented that the traders have brought objections even before the Civic body could commence the process. “The Chief Officer is hearing five traders every day. If they have any grievances, let them give representation”, he added.
