The Times of India           05.02.2014

Curchorem Cacora Municipal Council to hear traders before shifting them

CURCHOREM: Most of the occupants of the old municipal market building which has been declared unsafe by the Curchorem Cacora Municipal Council (CCMC) have insisted that the civic body accept their terms for rehabilitation before they vacate the premises.

The traders occupying the old municipal building have demanded transparency in the allotment of the shops to them in the proposed new commercial complex that is proposed to be constructed by the Goa state urban development agency (GSUDA) after demolishing the existing municipal market building.

"The municipality has failed in carrying out periodic maintenance of the building that has led to its deteriorated condition. The CCMC has not spent any money towards its repairs or maintenance for the last many years. It's unfair to make the traders suffer owing to the failure of the municipality in taking care of its building," a prominent businessman plying his trade in the old municipal building told TOI.

The traders have demanded that all the occupants should be allotted the same amount of carpet area as they are currently occupying in the old one, and that rehabilitation plans to house the displaced traders until the new building gets ready be worked out immediately.

Though the CCMC has asked GSUDA to make necessary arrangements for rehabilitation of the displaced traders in its market complex, the traders are skeptical about the issue.

CCMC chief officer Agnelo Fernandes has fixed February 6 to conduct a hearing of the occupants of the old municipal market building, who have been served notices by the civic body to vacate the premises.

Fernandes informed TOI that the hearing will be conducted at 3pm and urged all stakeholders to attend the meeting.

"I wish to give an opportunity to the lessees of the building to submit their views. The rehabilitation plans as well as the modalities for executing the lease agreement to occupy shops in the new commercial building will also be explained to them during the hearing. I will try to take everybody into confidence and arrive at an amicable solution before going ahead with the demolition of the old building," Fernandes said.

The proposal of the CCMC to construct a new commercial complex on the place where the old municipal building currently stands is awaiting the approval of the town and country planning (TCP) department, official sources said.