The Hindu 21.01.2010
Corporation locks 53 shops
Staff Reporter
| For non-payment of rent at Mattuthavani bus stand |
— Photo: S. James. 
OFFICIALS IN ACTION: Two of the many shops that were locked at the Mattuthavani integrated bus stand in the city on Wednesday.
MADURAI: Madurai Corporation officials on Wednesday locked 53 shops at Mattuthavani Integrated bus stand for non-payment of rent.
Officials led by the Corporation Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), R. Baskaran, and the Assistant Commissioner (North), S. Rajagandhi, listed out the 53 shops that had outstanding dues of Rs. 40,000 and more and closed them.
Mr. Baskaran said that the leasees of the 193 shops in the bus stand alone owed around Rs. 1 crore to the local body.
The Corporation was able to collect Rs. 7.5 lakh on Wednesday following action by the officials.
Many of the shopkeepers had refused to pay the rent after it was upwardly revised by 25 per cent five years back.
They sought judicial intervention into the Corporation’s proposal, but lost their case in the High Court, Mr. Baskaran said.
He added that all the licences for the shops of those who fail to pay the arrears would not be renewed, but be auctioned after March.
Already 58 shops at Shopping Complex bus stand were closed for similar reason and would be auctioned.
Efforts were being taken to retrieve the arrears from those who had their shops there, he added.
