12 Kolkata: Last week, hawkers set up semi-permanent stalls on a two-wheeler parking lot near the entrance to the bakery range at New Market, leading to protests from traders. In the run-up to Eid ul-Fitr, new hawkers have set up shops in the New Market area, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, Rabindra Sarani, and other commercial pockets of the city.
"Before every festival, new hawkers appear and usurp any available space. They make false promises of leaving once the festival is over, but never do," said Feroze Khan, a trader in SS Hogg Market.
At present, the lane in front of Treasure Island on Madge Lane has been completely taken over by hawkers, as has a substantial portion of Rabindra Sarani. "Customers are unable to walk up to the market due to the hawkers. Business is suffering," said a trader in Treasure Island.
Trouble erupted near the entrance to the bakery range at New Market on Wednesday when traders protested against semi-permanent stalls with tarpaulin canopies that were erected on a two-wheeler parking lot. Several additional stalls have cropped up on the road outside, further congesting the narrow thoroughfare.
"We have repeatedly requested the authorities not to allow new hawkers and to push back the old ones," said Uday Sahoo, general secretary of SS Hogg Market Traders' Association.
For most, this has become a familiar story. As Kolkata gears up for any major festival, like Durga Puja, Christmas, Eid, and Poila Baisakh, hawkers usurp vacant spaces and expand their stalls onto pavements and blacktop, leading to conflicts with traders. Police and other authorities do not crack down on them on "humanitarian grounds", and, once the festival is over, the hawkers never return to their original spots.
This encroachment has led to a rift between older hawkers, who have been occupying pavements for years, and new entrants, who have seized space on the road in front of them, adversely impacting their business.
"The unions and local politicians say these are poor people who will earn some money during the festive period. But once the festive period is over, these hawkers never leave, increasing encroachment. We cannot crack down due to political reasons," a civic official said.