MAPUSA
The Mapusa Merchants’ Association (MMA) on Saturday appealed to the Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane to direct the Chief Officer of Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) to withdraw the eviction notices issued to them for non-renewal of lease agreements.
According to the MMA, most of the merchants have already submitted the required documents for lease agreement renewal and it was the fault of the MMC for not renewing their lease agreements from time to time.
“The act of the Chief Officer to directly issue eviction notices to merchants is not adhering to the principle of natural justice and has created unnecessary panic and mental trauma among the merchant community of Mapusa,” said Shripad Sawant, President of MMA, in a letter written the urban development minister.
“You have always supported the merchant community and considered our demands. We again request you to direct the officer concerned to take back the eviction notices issued to us and renew our lease agreements as per procedure,” he added.
It may be recalled, on the directions of the High Court the Chief Officer had issued show-cause notices to 309 original lease holders of shops/stalls in the Mapusa municipal market for violating the agreement with the council and illegally sub-leasing the property to third person.
Activist Jawaharlal Shetye in a PIL had alleged that the civic body refused to take action against sub-letting of municipal properties.
