Tenants’ Association of Naga Shopping Arcade (TANSA) has expressed strong resentment that the Naga Shopping Arcade (Super Market area) Dimapur has been left neglected decades despite several appeals made to the Development Authority of Nagaland (DAN).
Highlighting the issues faced by the tenants during the press conference held on Wednesday at Press Point, TANSA office bearers pointed out that there has been no renovation/maintenance, whitewashing of buildings, maintenance of roads and drainages in the area etc..
They said, TANSA along with tenants had been carrying out basic maintenance work at their own cost, without any aid of whatsoever from the office of DAN. Despite all this, TANSA said the authority made an abnormal increase of rent from Rs.5 per square feet to Rs.9.50 per square feet for ground floor and for the first floor from Rs.4.50 psft to Rs.7.60 psft, in the month of April, 2019. It was unfair on the part of DAN to hike the rent, when no developmental activities were initiated for the tenants, said TANSA, adding they were compelled to take the matter to the Court.
What infuriated them more was the imposition of 15% service charge besides monthly rental without undertaking any maintenance work, TANSA stated.
They also highlighted about abnormal power bills, claiming it was much higher compared to other commercial buildings. They pointed out that meter reading in some areas were not possible as the meter-box were located in basements that were inundated for years, due to lack of proper drainage system.
Citing an instance, TANSA claimed that the meter reading in such areas were adjusted by DAN and that one would receive a minimum bill amount of Rs. 1200, even when no power was consumed.
One official questioned: “When meter box is placed beyond the reach of the meter reader, how is DAN able to do the billing?”, while another member claimed that in certain times, the meter reader would not read the meter but make the electricity bill as per head-count in the house.
Mentioning that they will have no issue with the authority for hiking the rent, 15% service charge, abnormal electricity bill etc., TANSA however questioned DAN as to why there has been no renovation or maintenance in any way, from the revenue collected so far.
TANSA also raised the issue of organizing night carnivals in the arcade area, saying it has added more burden to the tenants. Stating that they were not against any organisation or NGO for organizing the carnivals, TANSA said lack of proper toilets have compelled visitors to defecate in open space and nearby residential areas, turning into a health hazard owing to foul smell.
To this, TANSA highlighted that some toilets, which were made for public use, were rented out to individuals for personal use (mainly used as store houses).
It was learnt that each service block was supposed to have two toilets, however, almost all of them locked and supposedly rented out to individuals.
TANSA, in this connection requested visitors/customers to not defecate in open areas, but to use the “pay and use” toilets made available by Rotary Club and DMC.
TANSA also expressed strong resentment that people were seen gambling in the carnival area till 5:30 in the morning, to which, actual allotment of time was from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
When contacted, secretary DAN said that the area was leased out to organize night carnival from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. DAN warned of strong action against such defaulters, even to the extent of cancelling the allotment.
With regard to safety and security, TANSA said nine watchmen/chowkidars were employed by DAN for the arcade area. However, none have been seen or were performing their duty, TANSA claimed.
They pointed out that several theft cases were reported in the recent past.
TANSA has appealed to DAN not to turn deaf ears to the problems and unhygienic conditions faced by residence of the arcade and to address their problems at the earliest.