Traders fume after GMC demolishes food stalls

GUWAHATI: The owners of food stalls demolished by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) for violating construction norms have accused the Down Town Enterprise, the owner of the building that houses the stalls, of being hand-in-glove with GMC officials.
Enraged at being hoodwinked by the owners of the building, who illegally permitted the stall owners to run their business in the area that were supposed to be kept free from construction, the shop owners have lodged eight FIRs at the Dispur police station against the owner of the building for violating his contracts with the tenants.
"Owner of the building Jyotishman Dutta had full knowledge of the GMC's eviction order served on October 1. On the day of the eviction, the GMC officials gave us only five minutes time to vacate the place, which was practically impossible as the shops were loaded with lots of equipment, food items and live stocks," said Joydeep Bhuyan, a shopkeeper whose stall was demolished on Wednesday.
He said the owners of the seven stalls had deposited security money of approximately Rs 6 laks with the Down Town Enterprise. At least 50 youths have become jobless after the eviction, he added.
"We would also like to ask why the GMC turned a blind eye towards other installations inside the premises," Bhuyan added.
Reacting to the allegation that the shops were demolished in spite of the owners having valid trade license, GMC commissioner Puru Gupta said trade license and construction permissions were two different things and in this particular case action was taken for violating construction norms.
The Down Town enterprise authorities, on the other hand, said the had lodged five FIRs against two vendors and their representatives, led by one Atanu Tamuli and Joydeep Bhuyan, two stall-owners, for creating regular nuisance on the premises and their not paying rent.
The GMC also has lodged FIRs against Sanjukta Bhagabati, Atanu Tamuli and their supporters, who instigated fellow traders to physically assault GMC employee Mumtaz Hussain, who was in the spot during the eviction drive.
Though some of the local traders accused Hussain of being drunk during the drive, GMC joint commissioner Ratul Baruah termed the allegation as false, citing a medical report. tnn