The dilapidated and murkier side of Naga Shopping Arcade, Dimapur, once touted as the biggest shopping complex in the entire North East Region. (Morung Photo)
Abnormal rent hike, yet utter lack of sanitation and basic amenities, says tenants
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 18
The High Court has issued a stay order in the stand-off between Tenants Association Naga Shopping Arcade (TANSA) and Development Authority Nagaland (DAN) over “abnormal” hike in room rent of the shopping complex.
In November, TANSA had gone to court after its appeals to DAN not to enhance room rent arbitrarily fell on deaf ears.
The Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, in a recent ruling stated “the Respondents (DAN) are hereby restrained from using any force to evict the petitioners (TANSA) from their respective shops till the next date fixed or till the Finance Commissioner disposed their appeal dated 26.09.2019 whichever is earlier.”
Earlier, DAN in an office order dated March 22, 2019, notified that the rate of room rent per square feet would be Rs. 9.50 for ground floor and Rs. 7.60 for first floor w.e.f. from April 2019, almost 90% hike from the previous rates of Rs. 5 and Rs. 4.50 respectively.
The sudden hike had met with vehement opposition from both commercial establishments and residents of the shopping complex.
On Wednesday, TANSA members led by the association president, Y Pukhaho Yepthomi, took media persons on a tour of the complex to witness first-hand the dilapidated condition of the complex, the utter lack of sanitation and basic amenities.
The backside of the complex revealed a sordid and murky side with two open defecation sites, foul stench emanating from the clogged drains and unhygienic living conditions.
Interestingly, a TANSA members said DAN had converted all the common toilets and bathrooms in the various blocks to dwelling places or commercial spaces and charging rent.
Later, addressing a press conference, TANSA members questioned as to why DAN had abnormally hiked the room rent when the latter had done nothing towards maintenance of the complex including drainage and sanitation, renovation and repair of worn out structures like pillars, ceilings, shutters and windows.
TANSA said in addition to the rent, tenants and business houses and shops have to pay an additional 15% of the rent as “service charge” and hefty electricity bills too.
“Besides these, DAN daily levies Rs. 20-40 from each vendor of the daily bazaar, Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 respectively from autorickshaws and commercial vehicles entering the complex, Dimapur Municipal Council charges Rs. 20 each from every vendor as sanitation tax, GB’s union charges Rs. 20-40 from every vendor of Wednesday Bazaar”, TANSA said.
But the tax levying agencies and unions totally neglect sanitation and basic amenity responsibilities, TANSA added.
Further, TANSA said though DAN levies tax on carnivals, fairs, expos, that take place throughout the year in the complex, yet the revenue earned is never utilized for beautification, drainage, road repair or renovations works of the complex.
“The regular hosting of events like fairs, expos and other events not only create inconveniences to the tenants but also greatly affects our business”, a TANSA member added.
