Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (VP)

Mangaluru, Jul 25: The shop tenants of the old Kadri Mallikatte Market are unhappy with the new market norms, the rental hike, and the lack of facilities, calling it a process to plunder money from the poor.

The shops at Kadri Mallikatte Market were promised to their previous tenants, but the department has issued bids against 15 shops, completely ignoring their previous promise and planning to implement a lottery system. Officials have classified this land as super built areas and have increased the rental prices. The engineering department and ministers do not understand the problems of the tenants. The tenants urged the authorities to reduce the rental rates and provide shops to all old tenants.

In a meeting, Rekha J Shetty, zonal commissioner, said, "The first right of refusal will be given to all vendors where they can pay 5% extra over the bids and can avail of the shop."

The vendors said, "Dengue is rising in that area, and there is no place for vehicles. The court has said that no information goes from here."

Rekha J Shetty responded, "For the past 3 months, we were unable to work. We have taken the problems in writing and discussed this matter in today's meeting. We know the problems of dengue and will not allow shops to open until the work is fully completed. Now only the work of the affidavit is remaining."

Vendors further added, "We are paying for a certain square footage but are not even getting half the allotted land." Rekha Shetty assured that this problem would be solved.

Also present on this occasion, Girish Nandan M, deputy commissioner, revenue, said, "I have issued notice to officials to make a permanent settlement. This is governmental, and we are trying our best to help you. The delay causes problems for everyone. If you're interested, you can choose; otherwise, there are other bidders. We have asked for a new bid, and all those who have given in writing will be decided, and any verbal contract will not be taken seriously."

He further added, "Everybody is allowed to take the matter to court, and in this process, there is no stay order. We will work on it, and your consent for a 5% hike on the bid amount should be given. The process has to end, and there are problems for everyone. If you fail to give in writing, it will be considered a refusal from your side. This is a bidding process, and we are not denying your problems. We have to make decisions, and the deadline to submit the letter will be on July 25 at 5 pm."

Suheer Shetty Kannur, mayor, Mangaluru City, said, "We are trying to help everyone, and there is no rule in democracy that we have to give plots to the old vendors. We have taken several loans to complete this project and have to repay them eventually. We will revise the price per square foot before handing it over, or the vendors can measure the land, and if there are any mistakes in measurement, we can verify. First, write the letter, then you can ask for revised prices."

Regarding this issue, a vendor said, "We have addressed this matter to the court, and the court has not issued a stay order. The court had told us not to take any further actions and said they would coordinate with the officials and address our problems, but after elections, the officials have left this matter, and the court has not received any information from the officials."

Another vendor added, "Previously, our rent was around Rs 1000 per month, which did not include any GST. Now they have increased the rent to Rs 30,000 with little to no facilities. The officials have tried to merge it into a multi-complex place and have destroyed the market. Even in the meetings, they do not inform the court about the issues; otherwise, the judge would have given his judgment. The officials are trying to silence our voices, but we will not follow their instructions until we see any work being done for us."