Karnataka - Mangalore   

Footpath vendors evicted thrice

RESILIENT LOT: Pavement hawkers, evicted three times, are seen occupying their original spots in the SBI bus terminus area in Mangalore on Monday.

MANGALORE: Officials of Mangalore City Corporation on Monday evicted footpath and roadside vendors in the surroundings of State Bank of India bus terminus, Lady Goshen Hospital and the Town Hall thrice.

This corporation authorities have been evicting the footpath vendors in the same area for the past one year but they return to their original spots immediately after the officials disappear from the scene.

The first exercise began at 10.30 a.m. on Monday from the SBI bus terminus when vegetable and fruit-sellers and other vendors were evicted. Vendors in front of the city bus-stand and market road, adjacent to Lady Goshen Hospital compound and those on the footpath in front of the Town Hall and near the Central Market were also evicted. As soon as the task was completed by the officials, some vendors returned to the same spots.

Officials again evicted them at about 12.30 p.m. only to find them back almost instantly. The eviction was launched for the third time at about 5 p.m.

Vendors had occupied the space identified for paid parking of vehicles on the market road, adjacent to Lady Goshen Hospital compound. A corporation official alleged that there might be an understanding between the contractor, who had been authorised to collect the parking fee, and the vendors. “Otherwise, how can the contractor allow these vendors to occupy the place meant for paid parking,” he asked.

Another official said that the eviction exercise would be continued on Tuesday, in the same areas.

G. Hanumantha Kamath, president, Nagarika Hitarakshana Samiti, termed the action as a drama by the corporation authorities. “It is just an eye wash,” he said.

The corporation was not serious about their eviction. If they really wanted to evict them, the corporation could find a permanent solution to this menace, he said.

Mr. Kamath said that the police too could take action against footpath vendors. About two years ago, the police had evicted footpath and roadside vendors on the stretch between Ambedkar Circle and the Juice Junction in Balmatta without the intervention of the corporation authorities.

The corporation could ask the police to ensure that the vendors did not return to their spots after being evicted, he said. Mr. Kamath said that Mayor Ganesh Hosabettu, at a meeting of the corporation council on July 29, had given a ruling that officials should take steps to evict vendors from footpaths. Under such circumstances, why the corporation was not evicting vendors from other places in the city and places such as Surathkal, he asked.

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