TMC councillor seeks KMC answer on ‘pavement sale’
Times of India | 31 August 2024
12 Kolkata: On several occasions, a section of the traders has complained about outright sale of the city’s pavements by hawkers or hawker union leaders. Now, a question in this regard was raised by a Trinamool Congress councillor at the KMC House on Friday. Councillor Biswarup Dey on Friday sought explanation from the civic brass what steps were being taken to prevent sale of prime pavement space in Bowbazar-College Street belt by the hawker union leaders.
While speaking at the KMC House, Dey expressed apprehension about fresh encroachment of pavements across the city in absence of any stringent measures by the cops or civic authorities.
“It is beyond my understanding how pavement rights are being transferred for cash. The situation is grave in the Bowbazar-College Street belt, and it may go out of control if timely steps are not taken. A section of the hawker union leaders is issuing ID cards to hawkers after taking money for sale of pavement space,” alleged Dey.
The Trinamool Congress councillor pointed out that the space, opposite Medical College Hospital, on College Street as the spot that was being either sold or rented out by some hawker union leaders.
Reacting to Dey’s allegations, MMiC Debasish Kumar — who is also the vice-chairman of the Town Vending Committee — advised him to take up the matter with the cops.
According to a hawker, who has stalls in the New Market area, the rates for either outright sale or rent have gone up after the Town Vending Committee and the KMC authorities declared that ID cards would be issued to hawkers across the city. “There has been a 20% surge in the sale or rent rates in the past couple of years,” said the hawker, requesting anonymity.
There is a quasi-legal system in place to ensure a smooth transaction before the pavements change hands. Agreements on non-judicial stamp papers are drawn up with terms that are used while transferring property legally. But, KMC apparently doesn’t have a clue.
According to legal experts, it is akin to the ‘Salami system’ that is usual in areas, where ownership rights for property are non-transferable. Huge money changes hands for occupying spots in prime hawking hubs.
Everyone seems to wait for a chunk of the pie — councillors, cops, musclemen and hawker union leaders, sources allege.