Srinagar, Mar 2: The Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) shopkeepers, Nallamar Road, here, have sought a special relief package from the government, while appealing chief minister Omar Abdullah to help them out of economic crises.  “We have suffered huge economic losses continuously during past 22 years. Some 15 years ago the SDA had asked us to pay rent without break assuring 50 per cent waiver on arrears from 1997. Instead of keeping its word, the SDA is now forcing us to pay full arrears in one go,” said a spokesman of the Union in a statement. He said: “The shops were allotted to us through auction but due to economic crisis and business failure the allotees have given them to other partners. These partners are running these shops and paying rent to the SDA for the past 22 years. Now the SDA is demanding goodwill for extension of the lease and possession holders of shops are not ready to pay.”  The union has appealed to the chief minister and the housing minister for the revalidation of the lease in favour the possession holders without goodwill money and any hike in rent.  This, according to statement, was stated at a meeting of the SDA shopkeepers on Wednesday at Sakidafar, Nallamar, here.  The shopkeepers on the occasion deliberated on what had transpired in the meeting between the shopkeepers and SAD officers on Tuesday. 

Lastupdate on : Wed, 2 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 2 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST