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Defer rent hike for Kasauli Cantonment shopkeepers: Kashyap urges defence minister
The Shimla MP met the defence minister, apprised him of the shopkeepers’ grievances, and urged him to consider the matter sympathetically and provide relief
MP from the Shimla parliamentary constituency, Suresh Kashyap, on Tuesday raised the issue regarding the rent hike for shopkeepers in the Kasauli Cantonment market with Union defence minister Rajnath Singh.
Kashyap met the defence minister, apprised him of the shopkeepers’ grievances, and urged him to consider the matter sympathetically and provide relief.
In a letter submitted to the Singh, Suresh Kashyap stated that local shopkeepers are concerned about the Kasauli Cantonment Board’s proposal to increase shop lease rents by 20% and levy additional charges on extended portions of the shops. He noted that this decision would impose an additional financial burden on traders who are already grappling with economic difficulties.
Kashyap informed the defence minister that according to the shopkeepers, the extensions to their shops were constructed at their own expense after obtaining the necessary permissions from the Cantonment Board. They pointed out that there were no stipulations at the time regarding the future imposition of such recurring additional charges.
He mentioned that a recent fire incident at Kasauli’s Heritage Market had also caused significant financial loss to local traders. Shopkeepers are already under economic strain due to the subsequent decline in business. Under these circumstances, the proposed 20% rent hike and the collection of additional charges could deal a double blow to them.
He urged Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to defer the proposed rent hike and the collection of additional charges until the entire matter is reviewed. Furthermore, he requested that no harsh or coercive action be taken against the affected shopkeepers while the review is underway.
