Thane Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal, who was in the eye of the storm after he slapped an autorickshaw driver during a demolition drive, is not regretting his action.
"I am not justifying the brawl, but what about my officers who have been brutally beaten several number times?" he said, referring to Deputy Municipal Commissioner Sandeep Malwi's beating at the hands of hawkers and auto drivers.
Jaiswal, who has been the Thane civic chief for more than two years, insisted he had only reacted and that too after much patience.
"I am not against hawkers but they should not be where people don't want them,'' Jaiswal said. He said he understood the nexus between the civic administration, politicians and hawkers but was prepared to break it.
As far as autorickshaw drivers are concerned, Jaiswal said it was not his domain but he acted following serious complaints that they never park their vehicles in the parking area and behave arrogantly with commuters.
"We have now asked the RTO and traffic police to ensure that autorickshaw drivers behave,'' he noted.
He termed the ongoing road widening under the Development Plan as a "bloodless revolution".
"The urban built up land which has been brought under road widening comes to 76 hectares — almost 250 acre. Most modest valuation comes to Rs 3,000 crore plus and we have not paid a single rupee.
All this land has come to the TMC free of cost just by giving TDR, enhanced FSI or rehabilitation and by opening up few amenities plots," he said.
On the proposed new hawkers policy, Jaiswal said the civic administration aims to put in place master plan in this regard by August 15 by taking hawkers into confidence. He informed that about five to six acres of land will be exclusively carved out for about 14,000 hawkers in the city.
"The proposed policy will be in line with the policy laid out by the government and also in line with the apex court order. There are 14,000 hawkers who will be provided a 10 sq ft area, which is more than enough for them. We are looking at providing about two lakh sq ft for hawkers but it won't be a contiguous piece of land,'' he said.
According to him, the civic body may take out 5 lakh sq ft land in small pockets, at junctions, grounds, open spaces and will be declared as dedicated places for hawkers.
...& ANALYSIS
- Thaneites can expect wider and hawker-free roads with less traffic congestion.
- About 14,000 hawkers will be relocated over 5 to 6 acres of land, while people can enjoy khau galli (eating zone) in the specified areas.
- Hawkers will be divided in seven categories including those who sell vegetables, fruits, flowers, garlands and bouquets, eating food, clothes, decorative and wooden items and meat.
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 "Sanjeev Jaiswal")
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