The Times of India           05.02.2014

Finally, Cuncolim municipal council's commercial shops to be auctioned this week

CUNCOLIM: The long pending demand for auctioning Cuncolim municipal council (CMC) commercial shops at Cuncolim market is finally scheduled for February 5 and 6. CMC is expecting a rent of about 15 lakh per annum from the 10 available shops.

Two shops are reserved for banks and commercial institutions, while the remaining small shops are other small businessmen. 120 small-time businessmen and five institutions have applied for the auction. CMC chairperson Devendra Dessai told TOI that it will be an open auction for the small shops while the commercial institutions auction will be based on sealed bids.

It may be recalled that the CMC has constructed the auditorium cum commercial market at Cuncolim market two years back. Former urban development minister Joaquim Alemao had initiated the project but even after its completion it remained un-inaugurated due to the election code. Local BJP workers had alleged corruption charges and demanded a vigilance inquiry.

The present government kept this project without inauguration for more than a year; but after the chief minister's intervention, the first phase of the project was inaugurated. Now, after two and half years of long waiting, the second phase of commercial shops will come in use. Speaking to TOI, Desai was certain that this project will help the council to be economically self-sustainable.