Cooch Behar, Nov. 9 -- The Cooch Behar Municipality has decided to keep stall rents unchanged for this year's Rash Mela, retaining the rate of Rs 4 per square foot fixed last year. However, the decision has not gone down well with traders, who are demanding a reduction in rental charges.
A senior municipal official confirmed the decision, saying: "We are neither increasing nor decreasing the Rash Mela stall rent. We have decided to keep it unchanged."
The traditional Rash Mela will begin in Cooch Behar on November 24. Considered one of the largest fairs in Northeast India, it is organised across the Rash Mela ground and the adjoining Bairagi Dighi area, near the residence of Madan Mohan Thakur. The 15-day festival attracts around 4,000 to 5,000 small and large traders from different parts of the country and beyond.
Traders setting up stalls at the fair are required to pay rent to the municipality based on the area occupied. While the civic body has retained last year's rate, traders believe the charges should be reduced to ease their financial burden.
Prabir Saha, president of the Cooch Behar District Traders Association, said the association had not yet formally discussed the matter with the municipality.
"We have not yet spoken to the municipality about its decision to keep the Rash Mela stall rent unchanged. However, the municipality has been increasing the rent over the past few years, creating difficulties for traders. We want the stall rent to be reduced compared to last year. We will soon hold discussions with the municipality and convey our views," he said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.