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Corporation locks 53 shops

Thursday, 21 January 2010 02:38 administrator
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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.

Last Updated on Thursday, 21 January 2010 02:40
 

Proposal for increased deposits, rent opposed

Thursday, 21 January 2010 02:36 administrator
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The Hindu 21.01.2010

Proposal for increased deposits, rent opposed

Staff Reporter

By traders for shops at new market site

 

Over a dozen traders met Mayor G. Thenmozhi to record their protest

“If the Corporation is facing revenue shortage, how can we be made to pay such a large sum?”

MADURAI: Traders of Central Vegetable Market near Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple are opposing the Madurai Corporation’s proposal to demand “exorbitant” deposit amount and rent from them on shifting the market to the new site at Mattuthavani.

Over a dozen traders, led by councillor, K. Chelladurai, met the Mayor, G. Thenmozhi, to record their protest. The officials have proposed to collect Rs. 4 lakh deposit and Rs. 5,000 monthly rent for bigger shops (13 feet by 13 feet) and Rs.3 lakh deposit and rent of Rs. 3,000 for smaller ones (8 feet by 8 feet).

“Presently, we are paying Rs.200 to Rs.4,000 rent for our shops. We were offered only an alternative site and none of the five meetings held so far the officials spoke about the new deposits and increased rent,” Mr. Chelladurai, who is also the president of an association of vegetable traders paying monthly rent, said.

“If the Corporation is facing revenue shortage, how can we be made to pay such a large sum of money. It is unfair to expect such a huge sum from traders who sell perishable goods,” another trader said.

The Corporation Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), R. Baskaran, said that the local body had spent Rs. 8 crore on the new market project.

“We have provided permanent structure with all facilities. When other traders, like those selling onions and fruits, are willing to take shops on payment of higher deposits, why should these traders, whom were are giving top priority in allocation, not pay the money. We are not insisting on the rate of rent and deposits as proposed, but willing to negotiate with the traders. But, the local body cannot afford to give them without collecting any money,” he said.

Mr. Chelladurai said that the traders have no other option but to seek legal remedy.

Last Updated on Thursday, 21 January 2010 02:37
 

Gudiyatham Municipal Council meet on January 29

Wednesday, 20 January 2010 04:58 administrator
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The Hindu 20.01.2010

Gudiyatham Municipal Council meet on January 29

Special Correspondent

For electing a new chairman

VELLORE: The State Election Commissioner has issued an order directing the Municipal Commissioner, Gudiyatham to convene a meeting at the municipal office in Gudiyatham on January 29 to elect a new chairman for the Gudiyatham Municipality.

The post of the municipal chairman remained vacant ever since the incumbent chairman R.S. Sivaprakasam of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was dismissed through an order by the Secretary, Department of Municipal Administration dated December 10, 2009.

The dismissal follows the passing of a no-confidence motion against the chairman by a majority of the councillors at a special meeting convened by S. Balasubramaniam, Regional Director of Municipal Administration, Vellore in the municipal office in Gudiyatham on October 21, 2009.

Prior to that, 30 out of the 35 surviving councillors of the municipality had given notice of no-confidence motion, expressing lack of confidence in the chairman on the grounds that he did not convene the municipal council meetings regularly, and that he went abroad frequently and did not hear the grievances of the public regularly.

R. Subramanian, Municipal Commissioner, Gudiyatham said that the meeting to elect the new chairman would be held at the municipal office in Gudiyatham at 9.30 a.m. on January 29.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 January 2010 05:06
 
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