PCMC scraps Taloja weekly bazaar over demand for hafta

Navi Mumbai: The Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has discontinued a weekly bazaar in Devicha pada around the Taloja MIDC area, which used to be held on Sundays.
The move came after locals claimed that a few local goons involved in organising the bazaar were collecting hafta from hawkers. Around a dozen hawkers were removed.

Earlier, locals had complained to PCMC about the weekly bazaar being held on Sunday. The bazaar also leads to traffic jam on the road following haphazard parking. The PCMC has taken action in the nearby areas, but not against the bazaar activity.

Bhagwan Patil, Kharghar ward officer, said, “The weekly bazaar has been under the patronage of a local leader. The leader is allegedly collecting hafta from those who come here to conduct business. The weekly bazaar in Devicha Pada around Taloja MIDC area was scrapped with the assistance of our PCMC staff.”

PCMC has recently passed a resolution putting stringent parameters for compliance to regulate the weekly bazaars. However, despite a month after the resolution no concrete action seems to have been taken against the weekly bazaars. There are instances of vandalism at the weekly bazaars besides chain snatching and other anti-social activities. Patil added, “Around a dozen of hawkers were removed from the weekly bazaar. The hawkers are selling vegetables, fruits, clothes besides various other items.” During the weekly bazaar removal operation on Sunday, PCMC officials came to know that one of the local leaders was asking the hawkers to go away. The officials also said the hawkers were asking the local leader to take his hafta and allow them to do their business.