the goan I network
PANAJI
Finally, the Corporation of City of Panaji has decided to clean up the scam-tainted ‘mess’ and illegalities related to allotment of shops in its market in Panaji.
At a special meeting held on Monday, the Corporation decided to cancel all space allotments made till date and restart the process afresh, going strictly by the rule book.
“The CCP has passed a resolution to cancel all the allotment of spaces made so far as it was not done following legal procedures. This has been decided in the meeting held today (Monday) and all the claimants who want place in the market will be given one months’ time to apply. These will then be scrutinized as per the CCP Act and rules and accordingly space will be allotted,” CCP commissioner Ajit Roy said.
“The CCP will soon come up with a detailed notification on this,” Roy added.
It may be recalled that the GSIDC had constructed the first phase of the market complex in 2003, while the second phase was put in operation in 2007.
Since 2005, the CCP has suffered a revenue loss of over Rs 5 crores on water and electricity bill as a result of this mismanagement.
Giving more clarity Commissioner Roy said that the list of allottees prepared by GSIDC will be taken as the base.
“CCP will invite rightful claims for space in the market and their applications will then be scrutinised following CCP Act and rules,” said Roy.
It may be recalled that the list contained names of traders who occupied kiosks in the old market and who were promised shops in the new market.
“At the time of market construction GSIDC had prepared a list of 400-odd claims. GSIDC list is base lot. All other lists of the Corporation do not matter,” the Commissioner said.
In 2005 many original occupants and tenants of the municipal market were not allotted any space in the new building and it was then alleged that some councillors had interfered in the process. Some of the original leasers also transferred their shops to third parties although the law does not permit such sub-letting.
Some 146-odd shops were said to be transferred in violation of CCP rules and there are around 300 market tenants irregularly occupying space there.
The mayor meanwhile refused to divulge any information about the meeting and said that CCP has decided that only one authentic version of events from the CCP commissioner should go to the media.
