Chandigarh
The Sector 17 Plaza and Sector 1 to 6, including Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake, became free of street vendors today.
Other Sectors, including 19 and 22, now have a limited number of street vendors. All this was made possible with the eviction drive carried out by the Municipal Corporation, along with a police force, at 6 am today. The authorities had sealed and barricaded the Sector 17 Plaza on Thursday night. No vendor came here in the morning. The vendors have been allotted sites in Sector 15 adjoining DAV Model School. The Plaza’s lost glory was restored today and it brought a smile on the faces of residents and shopkeepers in the market. MC vehicles were seen brooming the Plaza. By the evening, the area was decorated with flower pots. Sector 17 had become a vendors’ paradise earlier and appeared no different from any rehri market.
Similarly, no vendors were allowed in Sector 1 to 6. Those sitting there earlier, especially at Sukhna Lake and Rock Garden, have been given space on the rear side of Sector 7.
As many as 31 sites have been given to vendors in Sector 19, while 89 sites have been given to them in Sector 22. Some of the vendors resisted the move. However, their goods were seized and they were removed. Other registered vendors have been given space in Sector 15.
A total of 4,284 registered street vendors have been allotted sites. Of them, 981 got the possession of the site on Day 1. “Essential vendors” such as cobbler, tea seller and barber and moving vendors will not be removed from vending or no-vending zones as per the Street Vendors Act.
MC officer Vivek Trivedi said: “We have set up help desks for vendors at the MC office. These will remain open on Saturday and Sunday too.”
Sector 22 chick market demolished
The chick market near the health centre in Sector 22 was demolished on Friday. The nearly four-decade-old market was set up on MC land. Vendors tried to stop MC vehicles from removing their goods, but the police intervened and the structures were removed.
600 cops kept watch
Apart from a large number of MC officials, the police were deployed at key locations during the drive to shift vendors. Commissioner KK Yadav, Deputy Commissioner Mandeep Singh Brar and Senior Superintendent of Police Nilambari Jagdale visited the spot and oversaw the arrangements. As many as 13 SHOs, 600 other personnel, and three gazetted officers were deployed in two shifts. In addition, there were arrangements for water cannons, Vajra-mounted police and tear gas. A special team of traffic staff was also deployed for proper parking of vehicles.
Survey had found 9,356 vendors
- As many as 9,356 street, essential and moving vendors were registered in a 2016 survey
- As many as 4,284 street vendors to get 6’5 space; other “essential and moving vendors” to operate from the same place
- Licence of 2,674 vendors cancelled for default of monthly payment
- Sector 1 to 6, 17: No-vending zone
- Sector 19 near Palika Bazaar: 30 vendors
- Sector 22 (rear side of the market): 89 vendors
- Sector 15: 850 vendors
- Goods seized and taken in 75 trucks
What they say
We are not against vendors. They should be settled at an appropriate place. But the way they were increasing in an unregulated manner was causing hardships to the common man. We appreciate the MC and the police that such a major drive was conducted peacefully.– Hitesh Puri, Chairman, Chandigarh Residents’ Association Welfare Federation
We will continue with the same tempo and our staff will be deputed at the sites in the coming days. We will take strict action against the enforcement wing sub-inspector concerned in case a violation is reported.— KK Yadav, MC Commissioner People are happy with the move. We will now work on the beautification of the Sector 17 Plaza. We will decorate the area with lights and hold events here.— Neeraj Bajaj, president, Chandigarh Business Council
The Sector 15 site is okay with us as this place will develop gradually. However, the MC should provide us sufficient parking space for vehicles and the toilet facility. — Jagat Shankar, Vendor
The presence of vendors had troubled residents of Sector 19. They used to vend outside our houses and park vehicles on roads near our gates. Open defection was rampant and it was a nuisance. We thank the Commissioner for implementing the HC orders in letter and in spirit.— AK Dhadwal, president, Residents’ Welfare Assn, Sec 19
