Drive to shift out hawkers reaches high-rise gates, others await relief
Times of India | 1 July 2024
Kolkata: High-rise complexes and gated communities in Kolkata, Salt Lake and New Town, which had been troubled for years by illegal encroachers blocking approach roads and entrance gates, are relieved. The anti-encroachment drive taken up by the state, following the CM’s prod, has rekindled hopes of having clear footpaths among the occupants of these complexes.
“We have nothing against hawkers and often buy several things from them. But the way they had entirely encroached upon our boundary wall was something difficult to accept. Seeing the boundary walls freed and the approach road to our complex unfettered is an instant relief. Now the government should try to regulate hawkers at other important stretches around our complex like the Anandapur Road, where people are forced to walk on road,” said Jayanta Guha, a resident of Urbana housing complex off EM Bypass.
Similar was the reaction of residents living at ODRC housing complex in Behala, where multiple shacks lining the boundary wall of the government complex were demolished by the cops. “All these shops had started as tiny units but ended up encroaching upon the entire footpath and even portion of the roads. Even if we wanted to walk on the footpaths, the shack owners would ask us to take the main carriageway,” said Sangeeta Banerjee, a resident of the housing estate.
At AF Block in New Town, where a team of NKDA had successfully removed 40 odd illegal shops outside Coal India office on Wednesday, residents heaved a sigh of relief as they reclaimed the pavements. “We had shifted to New Town hoping to live in a planned city free of illegal hawkers and encroachment. But this place had become such a mess that we had begun doubting our decision,” said Sujata Chakraborty, a local resident.
However, residents of several high-rise complexes, where the eviction drive is yet to be undertaken, said they were looking forward to the same. They have appealed to the authorities with photographs showcasing the current situation outside their premises.
“We have repeatedly asked the authorities to clear the encroachers from outside our premises . Seeing the eviction drives across the city, we were hopeful. But, the way things have slowed down in the last two days, we don’t know if the area outside our home will be cleared soon,” said Sameer Sharma of New Town Heights.
Subho Dasgupta of Moonbeam housing complex, said: “The illegal shops not only encroach the pavements but lead to an influx of outsiders till late night.”