MCC Withdraws HC Case-Retailers to Occupy Central Market on 13 August

By
Alfie Dsouza, Team Mangalorean.
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MCC Withdraws HC Case-Retailers to Occupy Central Market on 13 August

Mangaluru: A few retailers of Central Market were rejoicing this evening, and distributing sweets to public, after Mangaluru City Corporation had withdrawn the High Court Case- and in the order dated 11 August 2020 by MCC states-Sub: Withdrawal of the public notice dated 7 April 2020 bearing No MCC/Rev/CRI/2020-21/A3 :

Mangaluru Central Market Building

Vide Public notice dated 7/4/2020, considering the prevailing circumstances as the Corporation market situated in T.S. No 180, 181, 181B, and 182 of Kasaba Bazaar Village, known as Central Vegetable/Fish Market had been closed, it had been notified that no business would be allowed to continue in the said building from the said Day i e 7/4/2020.

The Corporation has now resolved to withdraw the said public notice dated 7/4/2020 and proceed in the matter afresh in accordance with the provisions of Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976. Therefore, it is hereby ordered that the public notice 7/4/2020 bearing No MCC/REV/CR1/2020-21/A3 stands withdrawn with immediate effect.

And in yet another Memo dated 12 August 2020 from High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru in a legal suit between Commissioner of MCC as Appellant, and Ganesh Ancahn and others (Retailers) as Respondents states: The Appellant herewith produces the copy of the order dated 11/8/2020 vide which the public notice dated 7/4/2020 has been withdrawn. Wherefore, the Appellant respectfully prays that this Hon’ble authority is pleased to dispose of the above appeal by taking this memo on record, reserving liberty to Appellant to proceed afresh in accordance with the law, in the interest of justice and equality’- Signed by Advocate for Appellant.

It should be noted that the wholesale traders had been shifted from the old location of Central Market which used to be in the heart of the city, to Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Yard in Baikampady, in the outskirts of Mangaluru- and also the veg and fruit retailers and other businesses who were operating their businesses in the old building ordered to move out, due to congestion of space which abuses the guidelines of Covid-19- and also that Mangaluru City Corporation had plans to demolish the old Central Market and build a state-of-the-art new Central Market, had landed into controversy. (Ref: 2 High Court Stay Orders from 2 Parties Could Delay the Upcoming Project of New Central Market )

The new Central market was supposed to be developed at a total cost of Rs 115 crore. A proposal to demolish the existing old Central Market building and build a new market area was approved at the MSCL board meeting held in October 2018. However, no bidders had come forward to take up the work when the tenders were floated on three previous occasions. It is learnt that two-three bidders had come forward, but they were not approved by MSCL. Though there was a proposal to take up the work on ‘Engineering, Procurement, and Construction’ (EPC) mode, MSCL Board favoured the PPP model.

Thus tender with few changes in the conditions was floated for the fourth time. The proposed Central Market complex will have a separate space for the retail sale of vegetables, fruits, flowers, fish and meat. The complex will also have a separate space for commercial establishments and office premises as well. The Central Market before shifting to APMC Yard in Baikampady had 597 shops, operating wholesale and retail business. And in the meantime, there were two stay orders passed by the High Court pertaining to the Temporary Central Market and the proposed state-of-the-art New Central Market.

And now, with MCC withdrawing the case, and the retailers are allowed to move back into the dilapidated Central Market, the birth of the new Central Market will not be a dream come true for the next few years.

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