MARGAO
With reports of illegal leasing out of municipal shops in the city New Market and Gandhi market doing the rounds, the Margao Municipal Council and the powers that be controlling the civic body may have to answer a simple question “ will the Margao civic body probe into the allegations that Marwaris and Biharis have taken over the municipal shops when rules do not allow subletting?
In fact, it was not uncommon to hear allegations that the traders hailing from outside the State making their presence in a big way over the years.
What’s surprising to note is that these very allegations are now being made by the Margao municipal city fathers, more so BJP-ruled city fathers demanding stern action by the civic body to keep away outsiders from taking over the two municipal markets.
In fact, allegations are now being often heard right in the corridors of the civic body that outsiders are taking over the municipal shops from the original allottees by paying huge rent.
Thursday saw Margao Municipal councillor and member of the MMC market panel demanding a probe into the presence of Bihari traders in the Gandhi market. He has claimed that Chairperson Damu Shirodkar has issued strict instructions to the market inspectors to carry out a detailed survey of the municipal shops, the occupants carrying out the business and whether the nature of the shops have been changed by flouting the norms.
“It is high time the MMC has to initiate action against the illegal transfer of municipal shops to outside traders. If anyone is not interested to run the municipal shops as per the lease agreement, they are mandated to return the shops to the municipal body,” Mahesh said, while saying “under no circumstances can the owners sub-let the shops to third parties and outsiders.”
With ruling city fathers clamoring for action against the subletting of the Municipal shops, the focus of attention is now centered on the municipal officials and the politicians controlling the civic body how to go about taking action in the matter and revert back the shops to the municipal body.
Councillor Mahesh Amonkar told the media that acting Chief Officer Srinet Kothawale has promised him to issue a show cause notice to the owner of the Gandhi market shop for amalgamating two shops into one without the permission of the civic body. “I only hope that the Chief Officer honours his promise and issue the notice to the trader. I am also happy that Chairperson Damu Shirodkar has extended all support to the drive to check the illegal subletting of the municipal shops,” he said.
Mahesh pointed out that a special meeting of the MMC market panel headed by Vice-Chairperson Deepali Sawal is expected to take place early next week to discuss the issue.
