Over 100 traders from Bolpur demonstrated against Visva-Bharati on Friday against a three-fold increase in the rent and security deposit for stalls at the Pous Mela.

The four-day annual winter fair starts from December 24.

“The rent, which was Rs 25,000 for a stall, became Rs 75,000 this year. We also have to deposit security money that is double the rent. So, we are demanding a reduction in the rent and a waiver of security money for us,” a trader said during the protest in front of the central administrative office of Visva-Bharati.

After a meeting with officiating registrar Asha Mukherjee, the traders — protesting on behalf of the Bolpur Byabasayee Sangha — threatened to launch a larger movement if authorities did not heed their demands.

Sources said the protesters had submitted a memorandum demanding reservations of plots for the traders who had been putting up stalls for the past three decades.

“We have met the officiating registrar and submitted our demands in writing. We have given the authorities three days to consider our demands,” said Subrata Bhakat, treasurer of the Sangha.

Bhakat said he had asked traders not to book stalls online until “the Visva-Bharati authorities considered our demands”.

In November, Visva-Bharati, with the assistance of IIT-Kharagpur, introduced an online system for the booking of plots at the fair.

The varsity authorities said the aim was to stop malpractices in booking of plots.

The new system requires traders to pay an advance deposit and accept a condition that the money will be returned only if they remove their stalls on time.

Varsity officials said the traders setting up stalls at the fair in the past had gained unfair advantage in booking and selection of plots, making it harder for new traders to do business.

On Friday, the protesters demanded that they be offered a selection of all plots before newer traders were given the choice.

“There will be 1,542 stalls in the fairground in this year’s Pous Mela, open for traders on a first-come-first-serve basis. Our plan is to make it open for all, and anyone can book a stall by depositing the rent and security deposit,” a senior varsity official said.

The protesting traders, however, claimed that till last year, over 80 per cent of stall owners were local residents and deserved continued priority in the booking of plots.

Visva-Bharati officials said security money was introduced to stop the common practice of traders overstaying after the conclusion of the fair.

In 2017, the National Green Tribunal had directed the varsity to ensure the fair grounds were cleared on time and waste dumping prevented.

“We have seen the demands submitted as deputation by the Bolpur Byabasayee Sangha. We will continue the online booking process with our proposed rent and security money. We will not shift from our decision,” said Anirban Sircar, the officiating public relations officer of Visva-Bharati.

The sources said within two days of being opened, over 100 stalls had already been booked through the new online system.