But now, Valpoi Municipal Council (VMC) is hopeful that the shops will be allotted to 40 shopkeepers at new market complex soon.
Following an initiative of local MLA Vishwajeet Rane, the old market building was demolished nearly five years ago to pave the way for the new market complex.
The shopkeepers had vacated the old building after they were reportedly assured by VMC that a new market complex would be ready within 18 months.
However, the complex took three years to be completed and there was a further delay of a year, before the new market complex was inaugurated in February 2014.
The VMC was put into an awkward situation, after being regularly confronted by the aggrieved shopkeepers over the delay in allotting them shops in the new complex.
“The VMC had to go through many hurdles due to technical and legal problems. The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department delayed in issuing approval and since the new building lacked TCP approval, the GSIDC also delayed handing over the building to VMC,” explained VMC chairperson Ramdas Shirodkar.
“The steps leading to the entrance of the market complex were found to be obstructing traffic flow and acting on instructions from TCP, the VMC demolished the step. All problems have now been resolved and VMC will allot the shops to shopkeepers in the new market complex soon. The GSIDC has already handed over the building to VMC,” he added.
The matter is, however, not ended as yet, as the VMC still needs a clearance from the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA).
“We are waiting for an approval from the DMA regarding the rent issue. The VMC could have allotted the shops to shopkeepers a few months ago, but the shopkeepers were not ready to pay the revised rent, as fixed by DMA. Following the intervention of the Valpoi MLA, the DMA is likely to approve the rent as desired by the shopkeepers,” admitted Ramdas.
Narendra Shirodkar, executive member of shopkeepers association, claimed that the shopkeepers had refused to pay the exorbitant rent.
“We were being charged ten times more than what we used to pay in the old building. All the shopkeepers had met Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza and placed our grievances to him,” said Narendra.
“Our demand for a reduced rent is likely to be approved by the DMA soon and we are eager to enter into the new building,” he said.
