KMC gives 3-day deadline to Kolkata cops to remove New Mkt encroachers
Times of India | 29 November 2024
123 Kolkata: The Town Vending Committee of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Thursday served a 72-hour ultimatum to New Market Police to remove hawkers, who had encroached upon the carriageways and substantial portion of pavements in and around New Market recently. The decision was taken during the TVC meeting at the KMC headquarters on Thursday.
Majority of the attendees expressed concern over the escalating conflicts among hawkers in the New Market area at the meeting. They insisted that police should be stringent with the encroachers. "Police have been instructed to take control of the streets and clear encroachments by Sunday," said Debasish Kumar, the MMiC and co-chairman of the TVC.
Hawker Sangram Committee general secretary and TVC member, Saktiman Ghosh, wrote to municipal commissioner Dhaval Jain — who also chairs the TVC — urging the latter to take effective measures against encroachment.
"We have witnessed a section of hawkers brazenly encroaching upon carriageways around New Market whilst police remain passive observers. This cannot continue,"said Ghosh.
Fresh disturbance erupted in the New Market area on Thursday morning as groups of hawkers clashed on Bertram Street over occupancy rights of the carriageway. Around 10:30am, disputes erupted between hawkers operating along the western wall of New Market near the B block gate and another group attempting to claim the carriageway before them. The resistance and confrontation deteriorated into physical altercations around noon. The unrest continued even after cops arrived from New Market police station. Tension remained high until around 3pm. This portion of Bertram Street is designated for vehicle parking but had been occupied by hawkers for years until it was cleared in Aug following CM Mamata Banerjee's directives.
The second such confrontation in three days in the heritage shopping zone has left shopkeepers anxious and shoppers apprehensive. Last Monday, rival hawker union members had clashed at the adjoining Humayun Place over territorial rights. With the Christmas-New Year period approaching, a fresh influx of hawkers is attempting to occupy the carriageway. "Though I cherish New Market, I believe I should avoid this venue and shop elsewhere," said home-maker Nilanjana De Sarkar, who hastily departed the area.
SS Hogg Market Traders' Association joint secretary Ashraf Ali criticised the police for their ineffectiveness in controlling the situation . "Since the Bangladesh situation, the market has lost 60% of its business. Now, we shall lose the remainder if hawker conflicts persist. Why are the police unable to prevent this? And why is KMC silent?" he questioned.