Bhatkal: Five days' deadline by Taluka adminsitration to vacate municipal shops without valid bonds

Bhatkallys News Bureau/ Rizwan Gangavali Bhatkal 09 Sept 2017: Officials of Town Municipal Council and Taluka administration Bhatkal today made an unsuccessful attempt of vacating 34 rented shops. The locals who strongly protested the administration’s move to vacate their shops and alleged the administration of applying double standards while dealing with few traders, as they are being targeted while the other few are never questioned despite being the illegal tenants or residents in buildings. Karnataka High Court last year had ordered auctioning of 156 shops owned by the TMC in Bhatkal, after which in August 2016 the administration had auctioned 102 shops to exorbitant prices. 17 tenant traders had knocked the door of High Court against auctioning and the way in which it was carried out by the officials. The Court had then stayed the auctions. 34 shops which neither had a valid bond or the stay orders from the High Court came under the scanner lately and the Uttar Kannada Deputy commissioner had ordered the vacating of these shops. Heavy police force was deployed near Municipality complex since morning as the protests were expected.. However, after the protests from the locals the tenant traders were given a deadline of five days to vacate their shop themselves. Bhatkal Assistant Commissioner MN Manjunath and Project Director of Karwar District Viratti Mutta, Bhatkal Dy. SP, CPI Suresh Nayak and other Muncipal officials were present at the site.