In a space-starved metropolis that has no place to accommodate any more hawkers, the state governments latest hawking policy, which gives preference to those domiciled in the city, may face hurdles before it can be effectively implemented in Mumbai.
The rules were approved by the state cabinet last week, making it mandatory for the BMC to give permanent stalls to hawkers domiciled in the state for at least 15 years. While they will get their permanent slots for their stalls, those living in the city for less than 15 years and without a proof of their residence will fall under the category of mobile hawkers. The hawking areas will be divided into two zonesone will be where domiciled hawkers can set up their stalls on fixed plots and the other where roving hawkers can do their business. A committee, led by civic and police officials, are suppoded to ensure effective implementation of the policy at the ward level.
Civic officials, however, said the policy can in no way be applicable to Mumbai, which already has over 2,00,000 authorised and unauthorised sellers overcrowding 18,000 licensed patches. The BMC is only responsible for allotting slots to 23,900 licensed hawkers.
In the past, the BMCs licence department had faced stiff opposition from citizens and unions to allot spots to licensed sellers in hawking zones despite a February-2007 Supreme Court order. The court had appointed a three-member panel, which following a survey, finalised 221 hawking zones for the city. We believe that the latest rules are for cities that are issuing licenses to new hawkers, they cannot be implemented here. Mumbai wants to reduce the number of hawkers, said a senior BMC official.
Reacting to the apprehensions raised by civic officials, state authorities who formulated guidelines said the policy had been drawn up for the entire state, including Mumbai. Once this policy comes into effect, the Supreme Court order will stand null and void and so will the hawking and no hawking zones identified as per courts order. As a result, more space for new hawkers will be created. BMC officials are probably still looking at this policy with the courts order at the back of their mind, said a Mantralya official.