Day after eviction, vendors back on Mylapore streets
Shruti Suresh | TNN | Jan 23, 2019, 06:11 IST
FLOUTING RULES: Vendors were back on the heavily congested North and South Mada Streets in Mylapore by Tuesday eveningCHENNAI: A day after police and corporation officials removed encroachments and vendors along the heavily congested North and South Mada Streets in Mylapore, they have started coming back.
Road users and activists say the whole eviction process is an eyewash as this is what happens every time.
Long-time residents of the area are irked by the constant encroachment of roads and pavements leading to Kapaleeswarar temple by small shops and hawkers selling flowers and fruits and vegetables, and parked vehicles. The area is now choked with heavier than usual traffic because of the ongoing annual float festival at the temple tank.
On Monday, police and corporation officials visited South and North Mada streets and evicted vendors and other encroachments, including parked vehicles. By Tuesday evening, many of the vendors were back in business.
“While the corporation removed some furniture belonging to the roadside vendors, many vendors managed to leave the spot when they saw officials arriving. They swiftly moved out with their wares. As police kept vigil on Monday, the encroachers stayed off the road for a while but returned in the evening,” said Baskar Seshadri, a civic activist. He added that police did not make any rounds on Tuesday, so vendors had no fear of returning.
N Subramanian, who lives on South Mada Street, said corporation officials come by with a warning, giving vendors enough time to pack their goods and flee.
“There is no strict action to deter their comeback. Random eviction drives using earthmovers will help prevent such encroachment of public space,” he added.
An executive engineer from the Teynampet zone said that despite several eviction drives, the vendors keep returning. He blamed the traffic police for not enforcing the law. “A drive to clear the roads of encroachments will be carried out again. The traffic police should keep tabs after the corporation carries out such drives, but that is not happening,” he said.
He added that fear of the civic machinery needs to be created in the minds of the people.“As their livelihoods depend on vending, they keep returning after each drive. After the town vending committees are in place, unauthorized vending will be curbed in a better manner,” he added.
Road users and activists say the whole eviction process is an eyewash as this is what happens every time.
Long-time residents of the area are irked by the constant encroachment of roads and pavements leading to Kapaleeswarar temple by small shops and hawkers selling flowers and fruits and vegetables, and parked vehicles. The area is now choked with heavier than usual traffic because of the ongoing annual float festival at the temple tank.
On Monday, police and corporation officials visited South and North Mada streets and evicted vendors and other encroachments, including parked vehicles. By Tuesday evening, many of the vendors were back in business.
“While the corporation removed some furniture belonging to the roadside vendors, many vendors managed to leave the spot when they saw officials arriving. They swiftly moved out with their wares. As police kept vigil on Monday, the encroachers stayed off the road for a while but returned in the evening,” said Baskar Seshadri, a civic activist. He added that police did not make any rounds on Tuesday, so vendors had no fear of returning.
N Subramanian, who lives on South Mada Street, said corporation officials come by with a warning, giving vendors enough time to pack their goods and flee.
“There is no strict action to deter their comeback. Random eviction drives using earthmovers will help prevent such encroachment of public space,” he added.
An executive engineer from the Teynampet zone said that despite several eviction drives, the vendors keep returning. He blamed the traffic police for not enforcing the law. “A drive to clear the roads of encroachments will be carried out again. The traffic police should keep tabs after the corporation carries out such drives, but that is not happening,” he said.
He added that fear of the civic machinery needs to be created in the minds of the people.“As their livelihoods depend on vending, they keep returning after each drive. After the town vending committees are in place, unauthorized vending will be curbed in a better manner,” he added.
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