Valparai: In Valparai city of Tamil Nadu, the municipal administration sealed 10 shops in the New Market area, taking strict action against shopkeepers who had outstanding rent for a long time. The local office of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was also involved in this action of the Municipal Corporation, on which action was also taken to seal due to rent arrears. This action of the administration created a stir in the market area and an atmosphere of concern was seen among other shopkeepers also.
According to the information, more than 300 shops owned by the Municipal Corporation are located in Valparai New Market and Kumaran Road area. These shops have been allotted on rent to various traders and institutions. The Municipal Corporation receives regular rent from these shops, which is spent on development works and civic amenities of the city.
According to Municipal Corporation officials, many shopkeepers were not paying rent regularly for the last several years. Despite repeated reminders and requests for payment, the outstanding amount was not deposited. After this, the Municipal Corporation administration issued notices to the concerned shopkeepers several times and directed them to deposit the rent within the stipulated time.
Officials say that even after the notice was issued, many shopkeepers neither paid the outstanding amount nor received any satisfactory response from the administration. In such a situation, the Municipal Corporation decided to take strict action as per the rules.
On Tuesday, a team of officers and employees led by Valparai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Kumaran reached New Market area. The team inspected the shops that did not pay the outstanding rent and sealed 10 shops as per the rules. During this action, Municipal Corporation employees sealed the entrances of the shops and closed them, due to which the operation of the concerned shops was stopped with immediate effect.
The local office of BJP is also included in the sealed shops. However, municipal officials clarified that the action has been taken purely as per administrative procedure and all shops have been treated according to the same rules. He said that action has not been taken against any shop or institution on the basis of its political or social affiliations, but only on the basis of outstanding rent.
The Municipal Corporation Administration said that the rent received from public properties is an important source of income for the local body. If tenants do not pay on time, it affects the development work and citizen services of the Municipal Corporation. Therefore, collecting the outstanding rent is the primary responsibility of the administration.
Officials said that the owners or operators of the shops which have been sealed can apply for reopening of the shop after depositing the entire outstanding rent, applicable fees and other dues as per the prescribed procedure. After confirmation of payment, the process of removing the seal will be completed as per rules.
The Municipal Corporation has also indicated that if other tenants also do not deposit the outstanding rent for a long time, then similar action will be taken against them. The administration has appealed to all the shopkeepers to deposit the rent on time so that such action does not arise.
After this action of the Municipal Corporation, other shopkeepers present in the market area also started getting information about the status of their rent and other outstanding payments. Many traders say that after the strictness of the administration, the seriousness regarding paying the rent on time will increase.
Local people believe that all tenants using public properties should follow the rules and deposit the rent on time, so as to increase the revenue of the Municipal Corporation and speed up the development works of the city.
At present, the Municipal Corporation Administration has made it clear that the outstanding rent recovery campaign will continue and action will be taken as per rules against those shops or establishments which have outstanding rent for a long time. The administration reiterated that this campaign is being run completely in accordance with the rules and without any discrimination.
