CMC locks two shops

Traders stage protest in Madikeri

CMC had locked newly opened Cauvery Garments for not taking license and another Crown Furniture for not renewing the license. Merchants shut down their business establishments and staged protest at Indira Gandhi Circle. They shouted slogans against CMC and blocked the road, thus causing inconvenience to the vehicle users.

They said “CMC has been harassing the businessmen in the name of renewing license. Several shop owners have submitted their applications for the renewal of license two to three months ago. However, CMC has not renewed license so far. Health inspectors demand bribe. Though we have submitted complaints against the officials, no action has been initiated so far,” protestors alleged.

The protesters urged CMC Commissioner and Food Inspector to visit the spot but neither the CMC President nor officials came to listen to the grievances of the merchants. Later, the protesting traders visited Deputy Commissioner. DC K H Ashwathanarayana Gowda called CMC Commissioner and President. CMC President P D Ponnappa, Standing Committee President Prakash, Commissioner K Srikanthrao came down heavily on the traders for not contacting them over the problem. This led to verbal dual between the merchants and officials. Later, DC convened a meeting where, the officials informed that the traders had failed to take license.