"The new market is quite different from the old one. It is bigger and grander," said a source in Kalay town.

The new market under construction is said to be divided into five sections such as AB, CD, EF, GH, IJ. 

The AB section is made up of 76 rooms and the former owners of space in the market are demanding Kyat 400,000 as rent for a room from traders for commercial activities. CD section has 36 rooms and the rent for a room is Kyat 180,000. EF section has 113 rooms and the going rent is Kyat 150,000. There are 112 rooms in GH and 74 rooms in IJ section and the rent is Kyat 50,000 for a room, according to a source in Kalay town.  

Moreover, two restaurants are to be opened in the market and each space is to be rented out for Kyat 220,000.

'Latpang' market is said to be constructed by shopkeepers of the burnt down market on a self-reliance system. No assistance was given by the municipal authorities in Kalay town.

Till date, the amount of money contributed by each trader for the new building could not be ascertained.

'Latpan' market caught fire around midnight last year and was reduced to ashes. A month after the fire the new building began to be constructed on the same land.

The authorities paid no compensation for the loss suffered by traders who had space in the market.

The construction of 'Latpan' market was initiated by local traders around 1985. - KNG