Mayor says drive will continue in coordination with Police; prior information to be given to hawkers

Mysore/Mysuru: Mayor Shivakumar has stated that the eviction drive that is being conducted to clear street vendors around the Mysore  Palace area would continue as the vendors have been causing severe inconvenience to the public and tourists.

He emphasised that the officers of Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and the Police will coordinate before initiating the drive on Sayyaji Rao Road. The Mayor urged roadside vendors to cooperate with the authorities in this matter.

This decision came in response to the request of roadside vendors to allow them to continue their business while adhering to the restrictions. The meeting, which took place at Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Meeting Hall in MCC on July 19, involved discussions with the Officers of Deen Dayal Antyodaya-National Urban Livelihood Mission (DAY-NULM).

“It was previously decided in the Council meeting to clear roadside vendors around the Palace and Sayyaji Rao Road due to the significant hindrance caused to the public and tourists. While the drive is underway around the Palace, the vendors on Sayyaji Rao Road will be informed beforehand after discussions with MCC and Police Officers,” assured the Mayor.

Bhaskar Raje Urs, President of Karnataka State Street Vendors Federation, expressed his concern over the abrupt clearance of vendors who already possess Identity (ID) cards and permissions. He pointed out that as per the prevailing law under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, the grievances of the vendors should be heard first and a decision to evict them should be taken only after addressing their concerns.

Manager of DAY-NULM J.S. Bhyralingaiah mentioned that 22 designated places, including roads, have been identified for street vending. Additionally, 17 places, including the areas around the Palace, Sayyaji Rao Road and D. Devaraj Urs Road, are prohibited for roadside vending, as decided in the Council meeting. He underlined that street vendors belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category should possess documents and ID cards have been distributed accordingly.

MCC Commissioner G. Lakshmikantha Reddy clarified that some ID cards had been issued even in areas where roadside vending is prohibited.

He said that the decision taken by the MCC Council regarding roadside vending is final, and any ID cards issued in violation of the Council’s decision are invalid.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Mayor Dr. G. Roopa, former Mayor Ayub Khan, Corporator M.U. Subbaiah and others.