NO FEAR OF LAW 

Footpath vendors thumb their nose at MCC, return to Jumboo Savari route

Mysuru: Despite facing multiple evictions, the street vendors are back in business on the Jumboo Savari route between K.R. Circle and Sayyaji Rao Road.

Pedestrians, who heaved a sigh of relief following the eviction of footpath encroachments in the Central Business District (CBD), were in for a shock as the hawkers had returned with their shops on both sides of Sayyaji Rao Road and around the Makkaji Chowk area.

With the street vendors back in business, it is clear that the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has no hold over them. The MCC has launched ‘Operation Footpath’ based on a Supreme Court order and the State Government’s directions.

The encroachment clearance drive was conducted on Aug. 5 morning, during which the MCC officials cleared the encroachments and made way for smooth pedestrian movement. However, the vendors returned the same evening and were again evicted the same day.

However, the vendors, not yielding to MCC’s warnings, have returned to encroach upon the CBD area, which is also a part of the Dasara Jumboo Savari route.

It is not only the street vendors; the shopkeepers on Sayyaji Rao Road have also placed their advertisement boards on the footpaths to attract customers, which has congested the entire place.

Meanwhile, the MCC officials, who post videos and photographs of footpath clearance drives conducted in various parts of the city, have not been able to stop the encroachments on Sayyaji Rao Road and K.R. Circle. With the footpaths on either side encroached upon, people have no option but to walk on the road.

MCC must answer

The MCC’s silence on the issue has raised many eyebrows. People have been questioning the inability of the MCC to solve the issue. They have also expressed doubts about the MCC being politically influenced not to initiate further action against the street vendors on Sayyaji Rao Road and K.R. Circle.

Further, the MCC officials can also face contempt of Court, as members of the public have also expressed their desire to move Court in this regard.

Alternative place

With the issue of footpath encroachments not being resolved despite many attempts, finding an alternative place for the vendors might put an end to the issue.

The authorities can allot the empty land located next to Makkaji Chowk as an alternative place for setting up their shops. If street vendors disagree with relocation, such vendors must not be permitted to set up their businesses on the footpaths.