Vendors against civic body’s policy on street vending zone

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 6

The estate wing of the MC and the company, hired to implement the street vending zones, have been facing resistance from vendors. Due to this, the officials concerned have failed so far in coming up with smart bazaars. Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu claimed that the vending zone would be implemented in the proposed time. However, the situation on the ground appears to be unfavourable.

The MC has failed to implement the street vending zone which was inaugurated two weeks ago near the bus stand.

A number of local politicians, including Congress councillors, are leading the vendors to stop the progress of smart bazaars at the bus stand, proposed under the street vending zone project.

BJP-SAD leaders and councillors are even participating in the vendors’ demonstrations against the MC, Mayor and Navjot Singh Sidhu.

The company is making efforts to convince the vendors to shift to the vending zones but they haven’t succeeded till date.

Abhay Singh, in-charge of the company hired for street vending zone, said, “We have conducted a survey and found appropriate locations for the smart bazaars. Vendors from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are willing to shift but the local vendors are not responding. We don’t have force. The Mayor and the MC Commissioner have to intervene otherwise we can’t implement it.”

MC officials are also helpless as councillors and politicians are patronising the vendors. Some of the fruit vendors around the bus stand are influential as they have good links.

“We have to use force to shift vendors to smart bazaars, but it appears impossible as politicians are sheltering them. If the Mayor, MC Commissioner or a minister leads MC teams, the project can be implemented. It depends on political will”, said an MC official, requesting anonymity.

Estate Officer Sushant Bhatia said, “We will implement the plan. Vendors encroach upon government land, thus hinder the movement of traffic. No one will be allowed to set up stalls on roads and footpaths.”