The Times of India 02.03.2013
Civic body to rehabilitate hawkers near their houses
PUNE: The civic administration has come up with a new hawkers' rehabilitation scheme to rehabilitate hawkers and stall owners near their houses. Nearly 350 displaced hawkers will be rehabilitated as part of the scheme.
"Many hawkers used to come from different parts of the city and also from the fringe areas. The hawkers occupied spaces along roads which resulted in traffic problems. So the administration decided to find a solution, which would benefit the hawkers and solve traffic problems," said Dattatray Langhe, encroachment inspector.
Langhe said the civic administration has planned to resettle the hawkers near their houses.
The hawkers, who were removed during the anti-hawkers' drive, will benefit from this scheme. Only those hawkers who have a valid licence will be entitled to the scheme.
"The hawkers will have to face lesser competition in their respective areas as compared to busy market areas on the main roads. Even the transportation costs and other expenses will be reduced," Langhe said, adding, "The civic administration has communicated the scheme to the ward offices. The hawkers will have to approach the ward offices in their areas to avail of the scheme."
Langhe said locals had complained about the menace of hawkers in different areas of the city. These areas get overburdened with the hawkers.
"It not only causes traffic problems but is also a security risk. The police department too has written us letters to take action to reduce the number of hawkers to avoid traffic congestion on key roads," he added.
Nearly 350 stalls were removed in the recently conducted anti-encroachment drive. There are around 7,500 licensed stall owners in the city. The PMC stopped allotment of licenses from 1997. All those who started doing business after 1997 are doing so illegally. The municipal corporation has recently started a drive to remove hawkers and encroachments from busy roads to reduce traffic problems.
"Many hawkers used to come from different parts of the city and also from the fringe areas. The hawkers occupied spaces along roads which resulted in traffic problems. So the administration decided to find a solution, which would benefit the hawkers and solve traffic problems," said Dattatray Langhe, encroachment inspector.
Langhe said the civic administration has planned to resettle the hawkers near their houses.
The hawkers, who were removed during the anti-hawkers' drive, will benefit from this scheme. Only those hawkers who have a valid licence will be entitled to the scheme.
"The hawkers will have to face lesser competition in their respective areas as compared to busy market areas on the main roads. Even the transportation costs and other expenses will be reduced," Langhe said, adding, "The civic administration has communicated the scheme to the ward offices. The hawkers will have to approach the ward offices in their areas to avail of the scheme."
Langhe said locals had complained about the menace of hawkers in different areas of the city. These areas get overburdened with the hawkers.
"It not only causes traffic problems but is also a security risk. The police department too has written us letters to take action to reduce the number of hawkers to avoid traffic congestion on key roads," he added.
Nearly 350 stalls were removed in the recently conducted anti-encroachment drive. There are around 7,500 licensed stall owners in the city. The PMC stopped allotment of licenses from 1997. All those who started doing business after 1997 are doing so illegally. The municipal corporation has recently started a drive to remove hawkers and encroachments from busy roads to reduce traffic problems.
