Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jul 22: The issue of constructing a new central market building and also building of temporary market sheds at the Nehru Maidan have been stalled due to legal disputes.
In two different public interest litigations, central market traders had questioned the above two moves in the high court. They had expressed reservations at the demolition of the existing central market building and also erection of sheds at Nehru Maidan. As the high court has issued a stay order, the city corporation is under compulsion to maintain status quo till the final order is delivered.
Central market (file photo)
After finding that it is impossible to follow rules of social distancing at the central market, the city corporation had shifted wholesale traders functioning there to the APMC Yard, Baikampady in April first week. The retailers there had been promised temporary sheds near the football ground.
The work of building temporary sheds in 1.65 acres of vacant land near the football ground at an expense of Rs 5.82 crore had been started but 11 traders filed public interest litigations against this move and the high court issued temporary stay against shed construction on June 18. Stay order has also been brought against the demolition of the current central market building. The retailers, who are unable to conduct their business, had also staged a protest here on May 6, seeking to resume business at the central market building.
Even though a number of tin sheet sheds have been erected opposite Lady Goschen Hospital, near the tempo stand and by the roadside near the town hall by the city corporation, the traders have not shifted there as they say that the sheds are not suitable. As such these sheds have become shelters for the homeless and urchins.
City corporation commissioner Ajith Kumar Hegde Shanady, says that no construction work is possible now because of high court stay order. He said that efforts to get the stay vacated are being made and further steps will be taken once the high court issues orders.