NDMC cracks whip on 26,000 squatters

After taking measures to crack the whip on illegal vendors, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has removed 26,866 temporary encroachments by hawkers/squatters. HT reports.

After taking measures to crack the whip on illegal vendors, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has removed 26,866 temporary encroachments by hawkers/squatters.

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According to the civic agency, between April 2010 and April 2011, it has generated an income of R36 lakh, by fining encroachers, illegally parked cars and illegal advertisements. The vigilance department of the civic agency seized 168 advertisement cloth banners, 309 advertisement boards and 365 hoardings.

The advertisements had been placed without taking requisite permission from the civic body. NDMC also seized 4,962 vehicles that were parked on pavements and not on designated parking sites. In addition, 598 cycle/carts were also impounded to free roads of the area.

“This is a yearly activity and every year, we remove encroachments from the area. It keeps streets clean and discourages people from encroaching further,” said a senior NDMC official. Among those removed were paan-sellers, cloth sellers and flower sellers.

Recently, to discourage illegal vending in the area, NDMC had introduced smart cards, that have now been substituted for ordinary identity cards.