The tussle between residents and traders has again come to the fore with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) issuing eviction notice to several traders on DVG Road near Gandhi Bazaar, one of the older commercial areas of the city.
Over the past month, the BBMP has issued eviction notice to 125 traders on and around DVG Road, as the road, less than 40 feet wide, falls within the city’s residential areas according to the 2015 Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP). But DVG Road is part of the decades-old market area in Basavangudi and traders feel they are being unfairly targeted.
BBMP health officer (South zone) Manoranjan Hegde said notices have been issued to 25 shops on DVG Road and another 100 in surrounding areas. “We received a complaint from a few residents’ welfare associations that commercial activities were taking place on the road. As per the 2015 CDP, only residential activities are permitted on DVG Road,” he said.
With the traders submitting a representation to the BBMP, the civic body has decided to take legal advice on whether or not trade licence should be issued to them.
He admitted that bookshops and flower shops on the road did not need trade licence earlier as they were not listed under the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act. “But since it is a commercial activity, we have issued notice to them also.”
‘Unfairly targeted’
JD(S) leader and traders’ association member T.A. Sharavana claimed that shopkeepers on DVG Road were being unfairly targeted. “Narrow roads that are used for commercial purposes exist in Shivajinagar, Malleswaram and Commercial Street, but so far only traders on DVG Road have been issued notice,” he said.
“Shops on this road have been operating with trade licence for the past 20 to 30 years. What is more, this is historically a bazaar area since Kempegowda’s time,” he said, adding that most of the shops in the area have paid property tax on commercial rates.
He said he would seek a clarification from the BBMP Commissioner and decide on the future course of action after receiving legal counsel.
