A shopping complex built using the tsunami relief fund is yet to be put to use, although the bidders had taken the auction for a monthly rent.
The complex located on the prime area of T.R. Pattinam on the Tirunallar Road near Karaikal, was built at an estimate of about Rs. 75 lakh under the tsunami rehabilitation package scheme. The work was taken up in 2012 and was declared open in December 2013.
The Deputy Collector (Revenue), Karaikal, fixed the monthly rent based on the area of each and every shop. Of the 28 shops, two shops had been allotted for the watch and ward staff and the police personnel. While 13 shops were allotted on reservation norms, the remaining 13 were meant for open allotment.
Initially, there were no takers for the shops as the traders complained that the area lacked basic amenities, particularly road, toilet, and bathrooms. The T.R. Pattinam Commune panchayat arranged for the construction of toilet and bathrooms.
The Deputy Collector (Revenue) fixed the minimum rent at Rs. 1,700 following which 13 shops had been allotted to the open category of traders. Each shop now fetches a rent ranging between Rs. 2,050 and Rs. 2,100. The beneficiaries under the reservation category too had not turned up.
The reason being that absence of road facility to shopping complex. The traders said that although the shopping complex was five metres away from the Tirunallar-Karaikal Road, the absence of tar road in front of the complex would be a great hurdle, as vehicles especially heavy vehicles, would not be able to access the area.
The only solace is that 13 traders had been, however, prompt in remitting the monthly rent to the Commune Panchayat.
