By Ramesh Mathew
In the wake of the latest eviction in the Asmakh area, tenants in some buildings earmarked for demolition have sought an extension to eviction deadline, at least until the end of summer.
Even though notice for eviction was reportedly served in the beginning of this year to tenants in the Asmakh area, few seemed to have taken it seriously and many of them expected it to be delayed as it happened in many cases in other
neighbourhoods.
Every eviction leaves behind a number of hapless victims and one that was carried out in Asmakh too had its share of people, some of whom were forcibly removed from their houses on Tuesday night.
While most of those evicted, mainly low-income single workers, are still looking for “affordable” accommodation, some of the businesses that catered to many of them are facing a different kind of dilemma, inquiries found.
Many of those hit by the eviction used to buy provisions from the groceries in the area and eat in the restaurants in the vicinity. These outlets provided credit facilities to their customers, mainly residents of the area where evictions were carried out.
“However, with most of them moving out of the area, we don’t expect these customers to come back in the coming days and hence we stand to lose considerable sums, which were given as credit while they made their purchases,” said a grocery operator.
He recalled the experiences of some of his friends who had lost money when single workers were shifted to unknown places from their previous accommodations in batches.
While narrating some unpleasant experience that he had a few years ago in a Najma neighbourhood, a grocery owner explained how he lost big sums after giving credit facilities to three or four different groups of bachelors in the area where his shop is located. “They left the place in the wee hours during summer even without giving us any hint about their shifting plans,” said the shopkeeper.
After a couple of years the grocery operator met one of those who “vanished” without settling his arrears while others had already travelled out of the country. Ultimately, the grocery operator was forced to take police assistance to get his money from the young worker. “Most of such vanishing singles are people working outside the sponsors,” he said.
Though different to the eviction in Al Asmakh area on Tuesday, some in Najma also had a similar experience a few days ago. Following a dispute between a landlord and a real estate agent, the former disconnected power supply to the whole complex, which housed many bachelors, besides six-seven business establishments, including eateries and a grocery.
Unable to bear the searing conditions in the absence of power supply, residents moved out of the complex and the business outlets still remain closed. Until now no settlement has been reached at, inquiries with some of the tenants found.
The operator of one of the affected restaurants reported huge loss to him since vegetables, fish and meat perished in the summer heat.
In a Muntazah locality too, many families have been served a notice of one month to vacate their accommodation, as the place is earmarked for
development.
