Goemkarponn desk
MAPUSA: The Mapusa Market vendors today have withdrawn their protests after MLA Joshua D’Souza
agreed to discuss on the issue of rent in hike with Mapusa Municipal Corporation (MMC).
MMC market vendors kept their shutters down and marched onto Mapusa Municipality in protest against hike in monthly rent.
“We have now withdrawn protest after MLA Joshua D’souza said that he will discuss rent hike of shops ane take necessary action,” they said.
Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza also said that a meeting will be held today evening to discuss the issue in detail and appropriate decision will be taken.
The vendors said that they had urged MMC to reconsider its decision and withdraw the hike, stating that it will impose significant financial burden on vendors.
During the meeting, representatives from the Mapusa Merchants Association conveyed to MLA that the suggested rise in shop rents is deemed unfavourable for the economic sustainability of their businesses.
They also said that they put before the chairperson, the challenges faced by businesses, especially in the current economic climate, and highlighted the potential consequences of such a rent hike.
Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) had adopted a resolution to raise the monthly rent for shops and stalls owned by the municipality from existing Rs 156 to Rs 295 per sq mtr.
MMC in turn said that decision was taken as per rent certificate received from the public works department (PWD) in March 2023.
