More hawkers turn up everyday, because they find encouragement from the BMC officials: Rohan Rathod
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was at the receiving end on Friday as BJP corporators alleged that the civic officials connived with hawkers and allowed them to conduct business fearlessly in Andheri West, including Seven Bungalows, Four Bungalows, and Juhu.
Amid high drama and allegations against civic officials, BJP corporator Rohan Rathod boycotted the meeting, and five others, namely Aneesh Makwaney, Renu Hansraj, Sudha Singh, Sunita Mehta, and Ranjana Patil, staged a walk out from the K-West ward committee meeting in protest of BMC's inaction.
Congress corporator Alpa Jadhav objected to the eviction of hawkers as she insisted that hawkers have the right to livelihood and the Supreme Court has given an order in this regard. However, the BJP corporators maintained that cooking on roads and blocking access to the pedestrian walk cannot be tolerated.
Rathod, corporator from seven bungalows in Andheri West, boycotted the meeting claiming that due to the inaction of BMC officials, residents feel that even corporators are involved in allowing hawkers in the area. "They cook on the road and occupy the footpath. More hawkers turn up everyday, because they find encouragement from the BMC officials. Stalls on the footpath operate till late night and some people also consume alcohol while they eat. Double parking is also an issue, escalating the issue to its worst," said Rathod.
Makwaney said that while they respect the Supreme Court order to allow hawkers to earn a living, BMC officials should keep in mind the SC ruling that specifies the width of the footpath and the demarcated hawkers' zone where they are allowed to put up stalls. "They cannot do business anywhere they like. Even the High Court has passed orders against cooking on the road, which is openly flouted. Why is the civic body quiet on this issue?" he said.
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