The dilapidated condition of Naga Shopping Arcade, Dimapur, once touted as the biggest shopping complex in the entire North East region. (Morung Photo)
DAN hikes room rent by almost 100%; tenants object
Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 25
A tiff over room rent has once again highlighted the dilapidated condition of Naga Shopping Arcade (aka Supermarket), once touted as the biggest shopping complex in the entire North East region.
Doesn’t matter which side you take- the tenant or landlord- the eye sore of the commercial hub is there for one and all to see.
The sudden announcement of the Development Authority Nagaland (DAN) to hike the room rent of Naga Shopping Arcade by almost 100% has met with vehement opposition from both commercial establishments and residents of the Arcade complex.
DAN, in an office order dated March 22, 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.
The new fixed rate is almost a 100% hike from the previous rent the tenants were paying, according to the Tenants’ Association Naga Shopping Arcade (TANSA).
“Earlier, the rate of rent per square feet for ground floor and first floor was Rs. 5 and Rs. 4.50 respectively,” a TANSA member said during an interaction with media persons.
Expressing downright indignation over the sudden and steep hike in room rent, 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 electricity bill too.
Queried on the probable reasons for DAN’s justification of the sudden hike in room rent, TANSA said DAN came up with the excuse that the latter had to pay salaries for its excess staff.
“But why is DAN levying service charge when it has done nothing towards maintenance of the complex including drainage and sanitation, renovation and repair of worn out structures like pillars, ceilings, shutters and windows? For more than 30 years, DAN has not done a single renovation work of the complex,” another TANSA member said.
Outraged at the “unjust” and “ridiculous” hike in room rent, TANSA held a general meeting on May 14 last where the members unanimously resolved not to comply with DAN office order dated March 22.
On Saturday (May 25), TANSA in a representation signed by the association President, Y Pukhaho Yepthomi, and Secretary, Yarmong, to the Chairperson, DAN, stated that it was DAN’s responsibility to “completely maintain the NSA complex buildings, since the structures being very insecure and for a commercial hub not presentable to customers to fix the old structures, windows, shutters, white washing of the buildings, proper drainage system, clearance of water logging at basements, complete hygienic environment etc.”
TANSA made it clear that unless DAN fulfills the basic minimum requirements, the tenants would not oblige to the revised room rent.
