For the first time in three years after it was unveiled, the unique all-night destination of the city might be headed for shutdown. The Shilparamam Night Bazar finds itself embroiled in a feud between tourism officials on one hand and traders on the other.
While the tourism officials have asked the traders to vacate the place owing to expiry of agreement terms, the traders protest that they be allowed to continue earning their livelihood. The traders have also threatened to agitate and disrupt the market if they are not allowed to run their business.
Presently, there are 60 shops inside the night Bazar though 40 more remain unoccupied. Recently, the traders moved the court and is yet to give a final direction.
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“The agreement was for three years and it ended on April 30. Hence, we asked the traders to vacate and apply again if interested since we are calling for fresh tenders,” said G. Kishan Rao, Special Officer, Shilparamam. “Most of the traders have not paid the rent of Rs 66,000 for the past 18 months and the government has been incurring losses. Even then they were allowed to continue.”
The traders say that they are ready to pay the dues but not vacate the market.
“This is a livelihood issue and we are ready to pay the amount that we owe,” Jacob Raju, President of the Shilparamam Night Bazar Traders Welfare Association, said.
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“Even though the agreement ends, we do not see any reason why the existing traders cannot be continued. We have invested a lot in the market and officials should be considerate. In the past few days, the market is almost dead with gates being closed and lights being switched off by government staff,” he added.