Indian Express 26.04.2010
NDMC says won’t transfer shops, traders to seek legal aid
Hamari Jamatia Tags : corporation, NDMC Posted: Monday , Apr 26, 2010 at 0328 hrs
New Delhi: Overturning its decision taken in 2000, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has now said it will not hand over ownership rights of 15 of its markets to shopkeepers.
In 2000, the civic body had planned to pass on the ownership rights to traders, subject to no objection from L&DO, Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, and the Delhi Development Authority.
The NDMC Markets Federation, which has been requesting for the transfer since 1968, is not amused with the change in plans.
According to the shopkeepers of the 15 markets, getting ownership rights would make it easier for them to get bank loans, change the nature of goods sold and undertake renovation that will result in boost in profits.
The NDMC, however, has refused saying the markets are a major revenue earner for the agency. The civic body has also cited problems such as the fact that the original allottees of these markets have changed and that the shopkeepers are ‘licensees’, which mean they do not have any right to claim ownership and
With the NDMC’s refusal to part with ownership in a meeting held on Wednesday, the NDMC Trader’s Association is now planning to consult lawyers. Talking to Newsline, Inder Narula, president of the Association, said giving them ownership would have benefited NDMC.
“If shopkeepers became owners, the NDMC would not be required to do maintenance work of the markets,” he said.
are allowed only to use the market for specific purposes for a specific period of time.
Also, the traders would have had to pay more property tax that would have added to the NDMC’s revenue, Narula added.
Markets that are demanding ownership
odhi Road market, Janpath, Yusufzai, Panchkuian Road market, Babar Road market, Baird Lane market, Kidwai Nagar market (South), Kidwai Nagar market (Central), Netaji Nagar market, Laxmi Bai Nagar market, Basrurkar market, Begum Zaidi market, Nauroji Nagar market, Prithvi Raj market and Pandara Road market.
