Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram   

Mixed reaction to eviction of vendors

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Jan. 10. The city corporation has won bouquets and brickbats for evicting roadside vendors on the Kowdiar-East Fort stretch as part of the litter free zone drive.

While evicting the traders, the corporation has taken the stance that no illegal trader would be allowed to occupy the roadsides and that cleaning and beautification of the city would be complete only by evicting the footpath vendors.

The eviction had sparked off protest and the corporation authorities had to seek police help to complete the operation.

The corporation has clarified that it has no plans to rehabilitate the displaced traders as it would become a precedent for others to legitimise their illegal business.

The corporation authorities have also said that the drive would soon be extended to other parts of the city too.

According to the Trida chairman, P.K.Venugopal, every drive would have such consequences. No cleaning and beautification process will be complete without evicting those illegally occupying the footpaths.

Rehabilitating them is not easy too. But they can be provided an alternative if the situation permits.

The theory that the wayside vendors too are part of the city life does not sell anymore. Each city would have a prominent stretch and it should be maintained properly, he said.

The Kowdiar-East Fort stretch has its own legacy and that should be given due importance while developing the stretch. The development plan envisaged by Trida would give due importance to heritage too, Mr.Venugopal said.

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