Kolkata: State urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul on Wednesday held a meeting to find ways to break a stalemate between some traders at Lansdowne Market and developers so that KMC could go ahead with the relocation of the shopkeepers and start demolition of the dilapidated structure for the market’s redevelopment.A senior KMC official said 11 traders of Lansdowne Market had moved court, demanding that once the market was developed, the KMC should allot them slots at the same spots as their earlier shops. He said the meeting was crucial as the impasse owing to the 11 traders’ refusal to move out was delaying the Lansdowne Market reconstruction. “As those traders were not willing to relocate, we could not demolish that portion. Wednesday’s meeting was called to find a solution. The discussion was amicable. Minutes of the meeting will be shown to them. After they sign, we can go ahead with razing and rebuilding,” he said.Paul, along with KMC officials and police, had visited the market on Aug 16. Visibly unhappy with encroachments by hawkers and traders, she reprimanded them for spreading their wares on pavements and setting up makeshift stalls with tarpaulin sheets. Paul had given two days, asking vendors to clear the encroachments and leave at least two-third of pavement space for pedestrians.
