Mapusa Merchants Association (MMA) president Shripad Sawant, MMA secretary Siddhesh Raut and others meet MMC chairperson Priya Mishal to oppose the hike in shop rent.
Photo Credits: The Goan
MAPUSA
Merchants in Mapusa market have strongly opposed the Mapusa Municipal Council’s (MMC) decision to hike the shop rent and have threatened to shut down the entire city along with the market if the decision is not withdrawn within eight days.
A delegation of the Mapusa Merchants Association (MMA) led by its president Shripad Sawant met MMC chairperson Priya Mishal and submitted a memorandum opposing the hike in the shop rent
At a recent MMC meeting, a proposal was passed regarding the increase in rent of the shops in the market owned by the MMC. The new rate has been raised from Rs 152 per sq ft to Rs 296 per sq ft, sparking off anger among the MMA members.
The MMA has given an ultimatum of eight days and has threatened to shut down the city along with the market, if the MMC fails to reconsider its decision. The merchants claimed that the MMC has repeatedly raised the rent of the shops and feared that they would face huge losses if the new rate was implemented.
They complained that the MMC had taken the decision without consulting them. MMA secretary Siddhesh Raut claimed that the MMC has not taken the required care of the market for the past many years.
Others claimed that the MMC only thinks of hiking the rent even though there has not been any painting or repairs and the market is devoid of basic facilities such as toilets and parking space. The merchants also stated that the MMC has not taken any steps to increase the footfalls of customers, while the number of uncontrolled daily vendors has increased in the market.
Pointing out to other issues, the merchants said the streetlights do not light up, there is darkness in the market at night, the gutters and roads are in bad shape and the CCTV cameras don’t work.
The MMA claimed that the PWD fixes new rent rates according to GSR (Goa Schedule Rate) every 10 years, but it is not mandatory for municipal councils to implement this rate.
The merchants stated that it is compulsory for municipal councils to implement rates directed by the TCP and they sought to know why was the decision to impose PWD’s rate hurriedly taken by the MMC.
MMC chairperson Priya Mishal said the decision to hike the rent had been taken in the MMC meeting. “It is not possible to withdraw the decision immediately. A decision on this matter would be taken in a special meeting by the MMC,” assured Mishal.
Others present in the MMA delegation included treasurer Jitendra Falari, office bearers and members, MMC deputy chairperson Viraj Fadke and Municipal Market Committee chairman Ashirvad Khorjuvekar.
