DM to take legal steps against Netaji Market traders

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 4: The district administration has decided to take legal steps against the wholesale businessmen if they do not shift their business establishments to English Bazaar Regulated Market (EBRM) from the Netaji Market. Despite several reminders the wholesale merchants related to agricultural marketing are reluctant to shift their business establishments to English Bazaar Regulated Market after completion of stall and shed allotment among them. The EBRM committee has set up nearly 600 spaces in various sizes to begin wholesale market there so it can run according to the government policy. The district magistrate has set up a deadline for shifting wholesale markets and decided to take legal action against them for violation of administrative order. “Within 10 km radius from a regulated market another wholesale market related to agriculture cannot run ignoring government's guidelines,” district administrative officials told reporters. A section of businessmen have been shifted to the EBRM after the administrative order but many of them have been continuing their business in Netaji Market. Since 1995 the district administration has been trying to shift the wholesale market from Netaji Market but failed to execute their decision. A few days ago the district magistrate Mr CR Das had requested the secretary of the Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce to execute the decision. Though MMCC secretary had ensured that traders would follow the decision, none of them started a wholesale business in EBRM. The district magistrate along with the SP and civic body chief today visited the area of Netaji Market and saw the same situation which has been creating congestion in front of the market due to loading and unloading of goods and parking heavy vehicles throughout the day. The Malda DM today visited the EBRM and held a meeting to open the wholesale market there within seven days.