MCC commissioner under fire for 'rude' behaviour

The vendors of Surathkal new market have condemned the alleged "rude behaviour" exhibited by Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner B A Nazir during a meeting with them recently.

Addressing reporters here on Friday, Surathkal Hosa Marukatte Vyaparasthara Sangha General Secretary Santhosh Shetty said that the temporary market built near the Central Maidan in Suratkal, after evacuating the vendors in the old market, is too congested to carry out business. There are around 250 vendors in the market including fishmongers and shandy market vendors.

The Mangaluru City Corporation authorities have been asking the vendors in the new market to evict the stalls, he said and pointed out that no written notice has been served to them for evacuation. The merchants have been assured of stalls in the proposed market to be built in the mall architecture. But no written assurance has been given to the vendors on providing stalls in the mall either, he said.

'Hooliganism by MCC Commissioner'

When the association office-bearers met MCC Commissioner B A Nazir in his chamber in Mangaluru City Corporation on December 5, the officer spoke rudely and posed a threat of bulldozing the stalls if the merchants did not vacate the place themselves. Vehemently opposing the gesture by the MCC Commissioner, Santhosh said that instead of looking into the problems of merchants, the officer stooped down to the level of a "hooligan" by directly threatening and abusing the merchants who are doing business for their livelihoods.

"The problem was later conveyed to the Mayor who asked the Commissioner to conduct a spot visit to the market. But, the Commissioner refused to do so," he said.

Criticising that the officer has been behaving like the personal assistant of the MLA of the region, Santhosh said the officer has succumbed to pressure.

Association president Umar Farooq said it has been 17 years since the old market was shifted to the current place. He urged the authorities to facilitate proper entrance to the market from the road. The agreement deeds of some stalls have not been renewed since 2007 and have been kept pending by the authority concerned. The same should be renewed soon. There is a one-acre land available near the old market, Revenue Inspectors office and agriculture department office. A bus stand should be constructed on the site and the new market in the remaining land. 150 square metre of area should be provided to the vendors at the stalls. The proposed mall, which is the dreamchild of the MLA, could be built in the remaining area, he said.

He said that protests will be conducted against the "apathy". If no action is taken even then, the association members will conduct a 'Vidhana Soudha chalo', he added.

Women fish merchants association vice president Prema N Karkera, executive committee members Abdul Jalil and Idinabba were present at the press meet.