GMC's rent hike leaves Guwahati shop owners upset

There are 12 markets comprising 6,000 traders under the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC).

The shop owners of Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) running markets of Guwahati were paying Rs 3 per sq ft as rent for the shops but suddenly the monthly rent had increased from Rs 3 per sq ft to Rs 38 per sq ft That means according to the revised rate the traders of Fancy Bazar markets will have to pay Rs 38 per sq ft per month.

Demolishing shops, sudden hike in rent leaves shop owners livid. is now all set to move the High Court against the hike in rent.

The GMCMCC is now all set to move the High Court against the hike in rent, however, they are ready to accept a 10 percent hike of the hundred percent. They also met Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and expressed their angst.

Speaking to media, Pabitra Kumar Sarma, GMCMCC president said, "The then GMC Commissioner had a meeting with us on 28 May and promised not to revise the price at least for this year. However, an order was issueed on July 18 addressing the current rates which are more than fifty percent higher than the previous rates."The traders have suffered a lot during the crisis. The GMC authority has issued a seven-day notice to them to pay the rent and failing to do so would lead to the cancellation of the commercial license, he added.

Sarma further stated that "Increased rental is not acceptable to the traders without upgrading the condition of the markets. "It is nothing but a way to exploit the traders. There are no facilities for shop owners such as drinking water, adequate toilets, etc. If our demands are not fulfilled, we will take rigorous measures in the coming days."