MCD’s hawk eye on hawkers
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi's latest “sanitation drive” is aimed at people.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi's latest “sanitation drive” is aimed at people.
A number of VIP areas are set to be highly sanitised, with the MCD deciding to disallow hawking and squatting at the main roads there.
Early this week, Delhi police chief Y S Dadwal had directed that hawkers who vend by roaming on Rajpath be removed. However, according to New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), all licensed hawkers can vend anywhere in NDMC area.
“If they have a license they can vend anywhere in NDMC area while roaming,” said P K Sharma, Medical Officer of Health, NDMC.
After the report was carried in HT, Delhi Police issued a statement clarifying move was initiated to maintain the sanctity of Rajpath.
“For safety reasons, it is essential that no vendor should be allowed on the road,” said Rajan Bhagat, spokesman, Delhi police. “However, vendors often come to Rajpath and park their vends in an unauthorised manner. No tehbazari (license) has ever been given by the NDMC to any vendor for parking and selling goods on Rajpath.”
The VIP areas which MCD targets include New Friends Colony, Defence Colony, G K-I, Ring Road, Outer Ring Road, Aurobindo Marg, Mathura Road among others.
“These areas were identified in consultation with the Delhi traffic police," said Deep Mathur, director Press and Information, MCD.
“We are planning to approach the court over this matter as removing hawkers in such a manner is hitting their constitutional right to earn a living,” said activist Madhu Kishwar.
More than one lakh vendors who vend by roaming in the city. The civic agency has given license to 16,400 vendors. “We are yet to come up with a rehabilitation policy,” said Anand Tiwari, spokesperson, NDMC.
