1234 Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), Kolkata Police, and Town Vending Committee (TVC) will conduct a joint drive to remove encroachments from the carriageways in and around New Market after Poila Baisakh, a civic official told TOI on Tuesday.
"We have devised a plan to make the carriageways around New Market encroachment-free. We are waiting for a suitable time to launch the drive," said the civic official.
Unlike earlier anti-encroachment drives, the TVC will this time involve the civic body's solid waste management (SWM) department in clearning hawker stalls. According to a KMC official, the TVC wants the SWM department's Halla Brigade to take part in the drive and get their vehicles parked permanently at the vulnerable points around New Market.
"Over a decade-and-a-half ago, the SWM department played a vital role in keeping the New Market hawking hub encroachment-free. Dedicated officers would seize the wares of the hawkers who did business illegally. Time has again come for the same brigade to be brought back to resolve the hawker issue," said Saktiman Ghosh, general secretary of the Hawker Sangram Committee, who is also a TVC member.
A KMC official said, though the Halla Brigade no longer exists, it can be reformed for this special purpose. "We are waiting for an official communication from the civic brass, following which we will take necessary action," the official added. "We have waited for a long time for hawkers to respond to our call to make all carriageways encroachment-free. Time and again, our requests have fallen on deaf ears. This time we will not hesitate to conduct an anti-encroachment drive," said a KMC official.
Sources in the KMC said a green signal was given on behalf of the civic administration to some hawker union leaders who are also TVC members, asking them to get ready for the anti-encroachment drive and, if need be, give a week's deadline to the hawkers who have been occupying carriageways illegally.
The SS Hogg Market Traders Association has sent a letter to the KMC administration, making it clear that unless the encroachers are evicted, the association would take to the streets and might be compelled to observe a trade bandh. "To us, the anti-encroachment drive has lost its significance as immediately after such a drive, the hawkers are seen back in their position. So what is the efficacy of such a drive?" asked Ashraf Ali.