SHILLONG: Following complaints of benami transactions in the MUDA Shopping Complex, Police Bazar, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh asserted that steps will be taken to ensure that the complex is free from people who resort to such transactions.
According to the complaints, out of 121 stalls in the complex (excluding sub way restaurant and the flower stalls), only 13 have been legally allotted to local non tribals. One stall was allotted to Syndicate Bank.
Sources said that out of the remaining 107 stalls in the complex allotted exclusively to local tribals, only 30 are being actually operated by them while the rest are being run by non- tribals in benami names. Hence the remaining 77 stalls which is a whopping 64 per cent is managed by non tribals who resort to benami business thereby violating the contract, sources added, while demanding an inquiry into the matter.
The Minister, however, said that a committee was formed around one and half year back to investigate into the antecedents of all the allottees and a full report was submitted.
“After the submission of the report we had sent legal notices and accordingly shops were vacated,” Lyngdoh said.
Lyngdoh also asserted that the MUDA will not tolerate any benami transactions in its complex while making it clear that the project was for unemployed youths of the State.
