DUSHANBE, September 3, 2010, Asia-Plus — As a mark of protest against the decision by the administration of Dushanbe’s Korvon bazaar to increase shop rental charges, many merchants running their shops at the Korvon bazaar have closed their shops.
One of merchants told Asia-Plus today that the rental charges have doubled and price of four running meters of his shop, previously 80.00 somoni per month, is now 160.00 somoni. “Nobody has clarified the reason for the sudden spike in rental charges,” he said.
In the meantime, the Korvon bazaar director, Ms. Halima Mavlonova, says they have increased the rental charges in order to stock funds for improvement of the bazaar.
“The rental charges have been raised by only 10.00 somoni, or 50 percent,” noted she, “The monthly price of one running meter, previously 20.00 somoni, is now 30.00 somoni.” Ms. Mavlonova says 8,500 merchants now work with the Korvon bazaar in Dushanbe.
In the meantime, the Antimonopoly Committee says a working group made up of specialists from the antimonopoly agency is currently monitoring the situation at the Korvon bazaar. The new rental charges have been endorsed by the Dushanbe antimonopoly agency, the source said. “Following the situation that emerged at the bazaar, the republican antimonopoly commission has decided to review the new tariffs,” he added.
