The seven-day deadline set by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike for its tenants to resubmit documents for trade licence renewal has drawn flak. The civic body runs 56 neighbourhood markets in which it has let out 7,200 shops.
The BBMP All Markets Shop Keeper’s Welfare Association, which has over 50,000 traders, said that the notification issued in newspapers on February 6 is undemocratic as it was done without as much as a meeting with traders.
The notification stated that all traders must present a licence agreement copy, identification and licence attested by a notary. Addressing mediapersons on Saturday, Association president R.V. Gopi said that 80 per cent of BBMP’s commercial tenants are uneducated and deal in petty products, such as fruits, flowers and vegetables. They depend on the BBMP for their livelihood and a decision like this would affect them. “The BBMP should have first explained why the new documents are required and issued notices to them,” he said adding, “Seeking fresh papers through a newspaper notification is unfair and not tenable.”
Mr. Gopi denied that traders are subleasing shops. He said that most are regular in paying rent to the BBMP. “Shopkeepers in many of these markets face shortage of basic facilities, such as drinking water and toilets,” he added.
