DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 14 (MExN): The Local Traders Union, Super Market Kohima (LTUSMK) issued a press statement to clarify the stand of the Union on the Super Market building Kohima matter, where the demolition work was carried out by Kohima Municipal Council and Kohima Village Youth Organisation at the instance of Directorate of Municipal Affairs, Nagaland Kohima.
General Secretary, LTUSMK, NEIBANUO informed that the Directorate of Municipal Affairs, Nagaland Kohima and Kohima Municipal Council were never a party to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the State Government represented by Deputy Commissioner Kohima and Local Traders Union, Super Market Kohima (LTUSMK) on 1/8/2003.
As per the MoU, the Deputy Commissioner Kohima was supposed to serve the vacation notice by giving one month notice to the LTUSMK and not the KMC or the Directorate of Municipal Affairs, Nagaland. However, in 2007 the Kohima Municipal Council superseding the MoU signed between the Government and the Union issued a notification on 1st April 2007 to the tenants to vacate the rooms within one month.
Therefore, the LTUSMK informed that it took the matter to the court and obtained a stay order. After which, the Angami Women Organisation (AWO) approached the LTUSMK to settle the matter outside the court. The Union on 26.6.2010 came to understanding with AWO and the stay order was vacated from court on 29.6.2010, it informed.
The press note termed as unfortunate that while the Union was waiting for a positive response from the Department, the KMC and KVYO acting on letter dated 2nd January, 2012 issued by Additional Director, Directorate of Municipal Affairs Nagaland Kohima seeking assistance from KVYO President for vacation and demolition of Kohima Super Market, resorted to damaging the shops in the Super Market Complex on 13th of February 2012.
According to the union this has caused a loss amounting to not less then Rs. 10 crore, which includes damage besides property and economic loss. In this connection, the Union has set up a special committee and requested the members to submit the detailed report on the loss of property and goods. The Union will further submit the detail report to the Additional Director, Directorate of Municipal Affairs Nagaland Kohima for claimant of compensation, it stated.
The Union also condemned the action of the KVYO volunteers, “who tried to physically assault some members of the Union and even using derogatory languages in the process of dismantling the Super Market Complex on 13th of February, 2012”.
The Union clarified to the general public that the Municipal Affairs Cell of the Department of Urban Development, Nagaland does not hold any legal authority to dismantle the Super Market complex and damage the shops because the LTUSMK had never entered into agreement with the Department. Therefore, the Union asserted that it would continue to “fight for our rights till justice is delivered.”
