Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has instructed all civic bodies to form a hawker committee as per the instructions of the Supreme Court.
“The civic bodies have fixed hawking and no-hawking zones. Instructions have been issued to take action against hawkers if they are found illegally selling food items,” said Minister of State for Urban Development Department, Ranjit Patil, in the Assembly on Thursday.
He was replying to a calling attention motion introduced by MLAs from Mumbai and neighbouring areas.
Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil highlighted the incident in Satancruz where hawkers were found storing vegetables and foods in an unhygienic condition.
“We have filed cases against the hawkers and action will be taken,” said Mr. Patil.
A hawker committee will have the municipal commissioner or the chief executive officer of the civic body as the president. It will have five official members, eight members from hawkers’ associations, and six nominated members.
Replying to a question on whether a farm goods market can be set up in the hawking zone, Mr. Patil said officials have been instructed to check on the feasibility of the proposal. “The number of permissible hawkers will be decided depending on the city’s population.”
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Amit Satam, who was in trouble for beating up hawkers, raised illegal cooking of food items by hawkers.
“Cooking on roads will be strictly dealt with since it is not allowed as per the Supreme Court guidelines. Licence inspector of the ward will face suspension for dereliction of duty if cooking is found on roads,” the minister said.
