BBMP seals 18 shops over rent arrears

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Saturday sealed as many as 18 shops including offices of BSNL, RTO and APMC at the buildings owned by Palike for non-payment of rents.

Several the traders running their businesses at BBMP buildings and the government offices have Rs 5 crore in the last two years.

A sum of Rs 5 crore is due from several traders running their businesses at BBMP buildings and the government offices to the Palike as rent. 

Members of BBMP Standing Committee (Markets), along with the revenue officials and the police locked 11 shops at Jayanagar shopping complex, four shops at Subhashnagar complex and one each at Yeshwantpur BBMP complex, Kalasipalyam wholesale vegetable market and BBMP premises near Minerva Circle.

The RTO office at Yeshwantpur complex has pending dues of Rs 1.15 crore while APMC office at Kalasipalyam market owes the Palike Rs 1 crore as rent, said Palike officials.

RTO office, later in the day, was re-opened after the department paid the dues to the civic agency.  

Government offices and units that were closed for the non-payment of rents include BSNL office, Priyadarshini handlooms, Fisheries department office, Minor Irrigation department office, Janatha Bazaar and Cauvery arts and crafts emporium among others.

“We had issued notice to the traders and the government offices thrice, requesting them to clear the dues. A final notice was issued recently. But there was no response from them. Hence, on the directions of BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad, we sealed the shops. We have warned the defaulters to clear the dues within seven days or face stringent action,” said M Gayathri, chairperson of Markets committee.

The palike revenue officers of South and West zones said that they will hold a similar drive on May 23.