MM : Cops don’t keep hawkers at bay : Oct 4, 2007
Cops don’t keep hawkers at bay
BMC claims encroachers are back on over 400 roads of the 500-odd it had
handed over to the police after clearing them
SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI
If the problem of illegal hawkers refuses to go away, blame it on the
police. That’s what the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which
cleared over 500 roads before handing them over to the police for follow-up
action, is saying after a recent survey revealed that hawkers are back on at
least 400 roads.
The BMC launched a campaign to clear roads of illegal hawkers in
September. Civic officials had penalised more than 3 lakh unauthorised
hawkers across the metropolis and confiscated their goods. Over 500 roads
were cleared.
Dr S S Kudalkar, deputy municipal commissioner (hawkers), says, “But now
only 70 roads remain free of hawkers.”
According to directions from the Supreme Court, the BMC has to hand over
roads to the police after clearing them of hawkers. “But the police
department is not doing its duty properly. It seems to be hand-in-glove with
hawkers, ignoring illegal vendors who are returning to the cleared roads,”
alleges a BMC official.
Some of the important roads where unauthorised hawkers are back are
Princess Street, Maharshi Karve Road (Queens Road), roads around Nana Chowk,
August Kranti Marg and old station road at Grant Road. BMC had cleared them
of illegal hawkers before handing them over to the police stations concerned
to ensure the encroachers did not return.
Kudalkar said, “We can only remove illegal hawkers. Then it is up to the
police to ensure that they do not return. Citizens too should understand the
gravity of the situation. If the menace of illegal hawkers is to be
eradicated, everyone – BMC, police and citizens – need
to do their bit.
“The issue will be taken up with senior level police officers at a
meeting next week. New strategies will be drawn up, including ways to deal
with the arrival of illegal hawkers during Diwali.”
NGOs have moved the Bombay High Court complaining about the menace of
illegal hawkers. At every hearing, the BMC is expected to file a status
report on how it has been dealing with the menace.
Joint commissioner of police (administration) Hemant Karkare refused to
comment.
Old station road at Grant Road (above) and August Kranti Marg were also
cleared by the BMC, but hawkers have returned
Publication:Mumbai Mirror; Date:Oct 4, 2007; Section:City; Page Number:9