The laxity on part of the Revenue Department is prompting vested-interest groups to eat into government property along important roads and trading points are on the increase, sources say.
A majority of the unpermitted settlers is driven by the low investment required to set up wayside ventures. The returns are almost always assured, sources say.
The trade on revenue land is mainly carried out by people who come up with wayside eateries and snack counters. Though the venture may be deemed ‘temporary,’ no one leaves the spot after setting up shop. The spot becomes their ‘personal property’ and the rights of the public are denied. “I have witnessed this right in front of my eyes. A man started as a tea vender at East Hill. Now, he occupies the spot and has expanded the trade with more items and seating arrangements for customers,” says a hotel entrepreneur from East Hill. He says such illegal trade is affecting licensed traders in the area. Though occasional checking is conducted to test the quality of food and other items sold by these traders, the encroachment aspect is hardly taken note of by revenue squads in spite of many complaints, source say. Traders say the land is evacuated only when there is land acquisition for new projects.
