Traders want loan interest, rent waived, submit memo

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 20

A delegation of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM) today called on Deputy Commissioner Mandip Singh Brar and handed over a memorandum to him on the issues related to the shutdown of markets due to Covid.

Members of the delegation, comprising CBM president Charanjiv Singh, patron Anil Vohra and general secretaries Naresh Mahajan, Sanjeev Chadha and Baljinder Gujral, said their primary demand was that shops dealing in non-essential items should be allowed to open immediately since the closure of markets for a long time would prove fatal for the existence of retail businesses in the city.

“If banks, offices and industries can open and public can move freely during the partial lockdown, there is no justification in keeping the shops closed. It is very difficult for the medium and small shopkeepers to carry on as they have liabilities such as rent, salaries of shops, apart from household expenses,” they said.

The CBM also demand waiver of all cess and charges such as electricity, water, Property Tax and lease money on all commercial buildings.

Traders should be duly compensated on account of rent, salaries and other expenses for the lockdown period. Landlords should be advised to waive or reduce the rent, they demanded. Banks should be persuaded to waive interest on loan taken by the traders for a quarter and instalment should be extended for at least three months without any extra interest, said the delegation.

All loses of lives and earning of traders and that of their staff must be compensated for by way of immediate relief or monthly assistance to the dependents.

Charanjiv Singh said the Deputy Commissioner promised to take up the matter with the Administrator tomorrow and take the decision in consultation with senior officials.