Municipal corporation, Patiala, has identified nearly 3,000 street vendors in its latest survey done for the purpose of rehabilitating them under the provisions of the Street Vendors’ Act, 2014.
Two years on, the implementation of the Act in Patiala has been moving at snail pace. But officials now assure that the rehabilitation would begin soon in order to resolve the problem of encroachments on city’s footpaths and roads.
A senior official said the survey report will soon be tabled in the meeting of street vending committee. Once it gets approval, the process of licensing them will start and simultaneously vending zones will be created for the purpose of accommodating them.
Officials said there are chances that some street vendors might have been left out, which will surely be accommodated once the licensing process begins.
Patiala faces major encroachment on its footpaths and roads due to unorganised street vendors and so far MC has done little to streamline them.
Once the Act is implemented, no vending will be allowed around 100 metres of secretariat building, district courts, offices of district panchayat, MC, cantonment board and state archaeological monuments.
Carrying capacity of the area will be an ultimate limit on the number of street vendors, which can be positioned in any area under vending zones. However, there shall be no restriction on mobile vending in the city if the vendors continuously move without affecting traffic and commuters’ movement.
The responsibility of the street vendors is also specified in the rules, such as they can only set up vends on the allotted place, besides complying with sanitary requirement of local authorities.
{{/usCountry}}The responsibility of the street vendors is also specified in the rules, such as they can only set up vends on the allotted place, besides complying with sanitary requirement of local authorities.
{{/usCountry}}Residents want effective implementation
Residents however want effective implementation to get the real impact of the act. Local resident HPS Lamba said the purpose of the Act will be defeated if the problem of encroachments and traffic congestion continues post rehabilitation of street vendors.
Experts said encroachment on roads and footpaths is one of the major reasons for accidents both for walkers, cyclists and two wheelers.
“This can come down if street vendors are placed in specific zones, which is what this act aims at,” said member of street vending committee Davinder Pal Singh.