SDA seals 35 shops for non-payment of rent

Sambalpur, Aug 31 (UNI) The Sambalpur Development Authority(SDA) has sealed 35 shops allotted to influential businessman of the city for not paying rents over the years.

SDA Chairman Jayabrata Ray today said the Authority was forced to take such action since despite repeated reminders the businessmen did not care to clear their rents.

As many as 30 shops inside the old bus stand and five near the Ladies jail were sealed in presence of police and magistrate. Few more inside the SRIT colony would meet the same fate soon, Mr Dey added.

Justifying the move, SDA Secretary K C Sahu said some shop owners had defaulted to the tune of Rs.2 lakh and did not bother to pay the rent despite repeated reminders.

He said rent from the shops is a major source of income for SDA but the intension of the shop owners to avoid paying rent citing various reasons pushed the SDA into financial crunch.

UNI