Guwahati:
Urging the state government to waive the increased annual rentals of the
municipal markets, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation(GMC) Market Central Committee
(GMCMCC) expressed its dissatisfaction against the excessive hike on Thursday
(December 17).
There are 12 markets comprising 6,000 traders under the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC).
The shop owners of Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) running markets of Guwahati were paying Rs 3 per sq ft as rent for the shops
but suddenly the monthly rent had increased from Rs 3 per sq ft to Rs 38 per sq
ft That means according to the revised rate the traders of Fancy Bazar markets
will have to pay Rs 38 per sq ft per month.
Demolishing shops, sudden hike in rent leaves shop owners livid. is now all set to move the High Court against the hike in rent.
The GMCMCC is now all set to move the High Court against the hike in rent, however, they are ready to accept a 10 percent hike of the hundred percent. They also met Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and expressed their angst.
Speaking to media, Pabitra Kumar Sarma, GMCMCC
president said, "The then GMC Commissioner had a meeting with us on 28 May and
promised not to revise the price at least for this year. However, an order was
issueed on July 18 addressing the current rates which are more than fifty
percent higher than the previous rates."The traders have suffered a lot during
the crisis. The GMC authority has issued a seven-day notice to them to pay the
rent and failing to do so would lead to the cancellation of the commercial
license, he added.
Sarma further stated that "Increased rental is not
acceptable to the traders without upgrading the condition of the markets. "It is
nothing but a way to exploit the traders. There are no facilities for shop
owners such as drinking water, adequate toilets, etc. If our demands are not
fulfilled, we will take rigorous measures in the coming days."