Merchants and traders have vowed to continue their fight to force the district administration to allow entry of vehicles into the iconic S.M. Street which is all set to be thrown open after renovation on December 23.
Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti (KVVES) president T. Nasiruddeen announced here on Tuesday that he was even willing to fast unto death to get their demand fulfilled. Speaking at a protest programme organised by a conglomeration of traders and merchants, he said he was “born and brought up on the street, had been doing business there, and will not mind dying there”.
The beautification works taken up by the Tourism Department and the district administration are nearing completion and vehicles have been banned for the past nine months. The traders are alleging that the administration is planning to continue the ban, which they claimed, would affect their already declining business.
Fire accidents
Mr. Nasiruddeen said if vehicles were not allowed on to the street, the roads need not be so wide. “Will banning vehicles prevent the fire accidents? There had been eight fire accidents on the street. Some landlords are behind it. But despite several inquires, it could not be proved,” he pointed out. The KVVES functionary said they had sent a request to the Chief Minister raising their demands. Representatives of various political parties were present.
Earlier, the State committee of the KVVES announced that the samiti would not boycott the inauguration function. KVVES State secretary Raju Apsara said they would not resort to violence, but take up peaceful means to lodge their protest.
Meanwhile, the Malabar Chamber of Commerce demanded that the administration take steps to evict illegal vendors who were flourishing in the area. M. Nithyananda Kamath, secretary of the chamber, alleged that steps were being taken to obstruct the business of licensed traders. No steps had been taken to offer an alternative to the vehicle ban either. The chamber demanded that instead of banning vehicle entry, the authorities should take steps to restrict it.
The Kozhikode District Consumer Protection Council, however, has supported the move to ban vehicle entry.
The council is planning to hold a walk by cultural activists on the street at 5 p.m. on Wednesday to step up their demand. It would start from near the bust of S.K. Pottekkad, they
