The book sellers of College Street are feeling blue, because they are unsure of their own future. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to construct a Book Mall, and demolish the present book stalls. This decision has been faced by severe criticism and restraint from the College Street Market Byaboshayee Samity members.

“We are not being included in any plans made by the KMC, and we are feeling left out,” said Bimal Nag, the president of the market samity. It is evident that KMC has decided to keep the shop owners out of the scene, from the mayor’s statement: “I can easily take away their licenses, and they will be in no position to continue their business. They have no right to demand any explanation from the KMC. If a landlord decides to remove his tenant and build a new house in place of the previous one, the tenant cannot ask for any explanation or blueprint of the new house, and nor can these shop owners.”

Clearly, Bhattacharya, has taken a very strong stand against the Samity, who simply want to speak to the KMC officials. “We are left in the dark. What we want is a discussion with the KMC authorities. Why have we not been shown the bluprint of the new building yet? And why has there been no written contract made by them, by taking us into confidence? These queries should be sorted out by them before they decide to demolish the old structures and construct the new building,” said Sameer Paul, the general secretary, College Street Byaboshayee Samiti.

Bhattacharya, on the other hand said: “We had already held a meeting some months back. There is no need of holding meetings every month with these people. Although we owe them no explanations, we have told them about the plan as much as required.”

The Market Samity wants to be informed about details of the “new infrastructure”, and also demands suitable “compensation” for the business losses after the demolition of the stalls, before they are relocated in the new building. The members have also demanded that tax should not be levied from them by KMC, while they carry out their business from the temporary place. But it seems that KMC is in no position to grant them these wishes.