Pune's Karnepath hawkers agree to mend ways

Dialogue and discussion may finally resolve the hawker menace plaguing the residents of Karnepath, near Don Bosco School in Yerawada, for the past three years.

A meeting was held at the office of the Karnepath mohalla committee on Friday involving the residents of the area, members of the mohalla committee and the city Congress president, Abhay Chajjed, where the issue of the hawker menace on the street was discussed in detail.   

The meeting was called by Chajjed on behalf of the licenced hawkers. One of the hawkers, Shankar Rathore, is a Congress worker.   

During the meeting, residents expressed anguish at the “unauthorised” business being conducted by the authorised hawkers in the area. “The hawkers have illegally barricaded the road to facilitate the comfort of their customers at the cost of space on the road,” the aggrieved residents said. They added that the hawkers have arranged stools for customers as is done on “the chowpatty.”   

Apart from urinating, defecating, playing cards, smoking, drinking, haphazard parking and unruly behaviour by the customers at these stalls, the residents complained that four authorised hawkers were not following the rules. “They wash their utensils, chop vegetables on the footpath, while they have permission to sell ready-made food and snacks only,” they said.   

National Society for Clean Cities chairman, Satish Khot, who facilitated the meeting, insisted on a long-term resolution. “We should create a khau galli near the info-tech companies, which comprise the major clientele of the hawkers, and remove them from this residential area,” he suggested.   

While Chajjed acknowledged the residents’ concerns, he also admitted that hawkers are a socio-economic problem that cannot be wished away.   

He urged the residents to interact with Rathore and lay down their conditions for the hawkers to carry out their business activities. Rathore agreed and promised to improve conditions within a fortnight.