Traders in Gokulpeth market in tizzy as NMC, NIT rain notices

 

 

 

A sense of uncertainty has gripped the flourishing Gokulpeth market in West Nagpur as Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) are down right to bulldozing the traders to pave way for the proposed multi-storey business complex. The two urban local bodies have joined hands to construct a mega 21-storey shopping complex in Gokulpeth market area. With the top brass hurriedly pushing for the project, the two civic bodies are out to get shop-keepers, 223 of NMC and 72 of NIT, evicted. For the same, both the authorities have been served notices to the traders directing them to vacate their respective premises, while one cited pending dues as reason, the other one reasoned the dilapidated nature of the building housing government offices including NIT’s own. At this stage, there is a total confusion as to shape of things to come-up in future. Still the authorities are gunning for destabilising the established trade in the market. Shop-keepers though angry, are confused trying to deduce the reasoning behind determined push on part of officials of NIT and NMC in demolishing the shops. While the NMC has allocated the shop on rent, as to NIT, the traders have secured it on long lease from the latter and paid market rate of prevailing period.

 

Recently, NMC served show cause notices to 223 traders who have been allotted shops on rent in the Gokulpeth market. The agitated traders body grouped under Gokulpeth Bazar Vyapari Parishad approached The Hitavada to narrate their tale of woes as they are staring at uncertain future as they say, for them it a shock that they still trying to overcome. Said Tushar Kothari, one of the affected party, many of the shops are at Gokulpeth since last 50 to 60-years and have continued to serve the society to the best of their capabilities. Now all of a sudden, without any mention of alternative site for their trade and services, NMC wants the traders to vacate the site. Expressing surprise at the show cause issued by Deputy Commissioner (Property), NMC, Mustafa Kothawala said the practice in the market for years together has been yearly collection of rent. The Market Department used to collect the rent+tax+GST+penalty for late payment from the traders Gokulpeth market and now the notice is issued for delay of just two months.

 

Adding further, Dilip Dave pointed out that the NMC seems to be blind to fact that many of the traders have paid their dues, rents, plus applicable tax and still everyone has been served show-cause notices. This indicates a systematic plan on part of officials who are acting at behest of someone else. Questioning the rationale of the Mall, many of the traders present during the interaction, pointed out to sorry state of affairs of shops in the multi-storied buildings in city. Many of the mall are empty, shops are vacant and yet again NMC-NIT are making determined push for the failed model. The question is why, and then at whose behest all this is being orchestrated, questioned Tushar Rathi, Mangal Singh Rathor, Yash Agrawal, Dilip Dave and others shop-keepers. Besides the small traders said they have developed a bond with the people who know precisely which shop in the Gokulpeth market offers which services. And when the mega mall is built, the citizens will at loss to locate, say shops for repairs of gas stove, other electronic and electrical appliances. And for that matter right now some hardware shops are facing the road and where will they be located once the market is razed to make for a gigantic multi-storied building, said Salim Shaikh, Taha Thekawala while echoing views of several other small shopkeepers like them.

 

Another trader having a shop in Gokulpeth market said he has another establishment in Sitabuldi where a mega mall is developed and said now there they are seeking Rs 16,000 per month maintenance charges. This is precisely going to be replicated when the mega concrete structure comes up in Gokulpeth and as such, they will be driven to down the shutters as their earnings are not that to bear such a huge overhead expenses. Same is the logic of traders in NIT complex who questioned the logic of declaring the building unsafe when no structural audit has taken place nor made public so far by the authorities. Similarly they said every shop employs on an average five to six persons, and each of them has a family to cater to besides the traders families. Means in a single stroke, the Government agencies wants to starve nearly 20,000 to 25,000 persons as at this age where would they start a new venture or carry out new experiments. The traders said, the market on West High Court road is only one flourishing even in the uncertain time and intense competition from on-line platforms. The traders said, there is no employment generation and now government agencies are keen to destroy whatever employable population by way of evicting them from Gokulpeth market, for what reason, no one knows.