KOCHI: The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has started re-admitting tenants of the commercial complex in the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium following the conclusion of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
The High Court had directed that tenants vacated more than a month ahead of the global event, in compliance with the FIFA security protocol, should be re-admitted as soon as the event was over.
GCDA sources said tenants with no outstanding rent dues and who produce documents like corporation licence, lease agreement, and ID card will be free to return to their respective shops from Friday. Some tenants have already started submitting documents.
Tenants who do not require corporation licence to run business or whose licences are inside the closed shops may submit a written statement to that effect.
Meanwhile, a section of tenants are apprehensive that issues with regard to payment of building tax may provide the GCDA with the fig leaf to block the entry of some of them. It is learnt that tenants are required to pay tax in the name of the GCDA Secretary. According to them, the GCDA should have readmitted them in the true spirit of the court directive.
Some tenants have sought the District Collector’s intervention for their smooth return to shops .They have also fast-tracked the process of registering their long dormant Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium Shop Allottees’ Association. Bylaws have been drafted, and the registration is expected to be through in a couple of weeks.
The association, which was formed several years ago, was left unregistered after it gradually turned dormant, and the stadium complex was hit by revolving door syndrome, thanks to constantly shifting tenants. “The GCDA used to collect maintenance charges at the rate of ₹1 per sq ft after obtaining clearance from the association secretary and approving the maintenance works done. Gradually, the system of collecting the secretary’s signature was done away with, and even maintenance work was left much to be desired despite the collection of maintenance charges,” said a long-time tenant who is planning to vacate shop rooms in the complex.
