The story unfolds
On February 18, 2007, the traders of College Street Market vacated the premises to be relocated at the Marcus Square. This came as a rehabilitation package so that the civic body could complete their work within the stipulated deadline of August 15, 2008. On ground zero, little has been done. The civic body admits that the construction work will take some more time.

The traders’ version
Traders claim that the business has dropped to 20 percent from what they used to have at the College Street Market. Shop-owners even failed to pay monthly salary to their staff.

Nimai Hazra, a staff at Pioneer Silk House, has not received salary for the last two months. “Earlier, our sales would mount to Rs 2-3 lakh per day. Now, there is little business at Marcus Square,” said Hazra. “My employer is running out of options and cannot pay us. My family is starving as I do not have enough money to feed them,” added Hazra.

Nearly 1,000 traders who shifted have not only lost business in the past 16 months but their health too.

The area has only one water-tap and does not even have a proper sanitation system. “We had said at the very beginning that this place was not suitable for business. On top of that, over 100 traders and their employees are suffering from jaundice,” said Bimal Nag, the president of the College Street Market Byaboshayee Samiti.

“Since the road to the market is full of potholes, customers prefer not taking that road to come inside the market. We really do not know how will we survive if this condition continues,” said Subhasis De, a shop owner, Marcus Square. “Four traders died out of depression and poverty. It seems that some more lives will end for the same reason,” added De.

Facing such adversities, the traders have decided to gherao the civic body on June 30.

The traders who were rehabilitated are a disappointed lot. “16 months have passed and now the developer Bengal Shelter has given the contract to Bridge and Roof. Not much work has been done,” said Monoranjan Chanda, member, College Street Market Byaboshayee Samity.

“The Kolkata Muncipal Corporation (KMC) officials are lying that we did not vacate the market on time. The notice that they provided is the proof,” added Chanda.

What the KMC says
The KMC has a different version altogether and chose to blame the traders for the delay.

“Developmental plans take some time to bear fruits. So for getting something better, they have to bear the pain for some more days. We are trying our best to provide all of the requirements including a good water supply and proper sanitation,” said Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya.

“The traders delayed in vacating the market. We have nothing to do. Talks are on with the builders and it will take some more months,” said Sahidul Islam, Joint Commissioner, Development, KMC.