MC committee recommends ownership rights for 48 vendors

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 24

Around 48 licencees of a shed market in Sector 23 may get the ownership rights of their respective sheds. A committee of the Municipal Corporation, comprising three councillors and officers, has approved ownership rights for these licencees.

The committee was formed with the approval of the MC House to resolve the issue of monthly fee slapped on these vendors. Now, the agenda will be tabled at the House meeting scheduled for April 28 for approval. If accorded approval, the matter will go to the UT Administration for the final nod.

“The panel has recommended to give them the ownership of the sheds. Like the shed markets in Sectors 22, 42 and others, ownership should also be given to them. They are poor people, some are selling fruits, “gol gappas” or running stitching stalls. Keeping in view their welfare, I have been taking up the issue,” said committee member and area councillor Sunita Dhawan.

According to the BJP councillor, the vendors have been sitting here since 1960s. In 1971, the administration had constructed booths for them. Of a total of 78 vendors, 30 had got ownership rights then.

The licencees at present have been paying Rs14 per month as rent. But recently, the MC issued an order to charge about Rs20,000, including the GST, from them.

They raised the issue with the area councillor who then took up the matter at a House meeting. The officers told her that the rent was as per the present market value and these vendors are earning enough to pay it.

But, the coucillors were of the view that the rent should be nominal. After the House failed to reach a consensus, the panel was ordered to be formed.