Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 19: As power supply to the central market building here has been restored, about half of the shops which were earlier functioning on the outer ring of the market building have resumed business operations.

As per high court directions, the city corporation has decided to allow merchants who are authorised to conduct business and who were earlier engaged in trade here. It has been collecting details of the authorized merchants and allowing them. Several merchants have since prepared their shops with repairs and painting.

The corporation, on the basis of documents collected, has come to the conclusion that only 33 merchants here were authorised. Therefore, it has decided to allow these 33 people to operate from the building.

The power supply, which had been severed at the behest of the city corporation, has been restored by Mescom on the basis of a request made by the Central Market Merchants Association. Water supply is yet to be restored. Corporation officials said that the merchants authorised to conduct business inside the building have also been permitted to resume business and they are expected to begin their businesses in a few days.

City mayor Diwakar Pandehwar said that only 33 merchants had renewed their license and therefore they are being permitted to conduct business.