Why fixing space for vendors may not be simple

Noida: Implementing a policy on vending zones in the city may not be an easy task for Noida Authority as it has been challenged in the Allahabad high court.
According to the policy and Street Vendors Act, 2014, the town vending committee must have at least 40% vendors as members, of which one-third have to be women. However, since this criterion was not met in Noida, the formation of the committee was challenged by the vendors’ association.
“The Authority is acting illegally and trying to divide our force by allocating spaces for vendors. The Act clearly says that a town vending committee will be formed that will conduct a survey, register vendors and designate space. However, since there is no committee yet, the Authority is trying to use force to do whatever it planned,” said Gangeshwar Dutt Sharma, president of the vendors’ association in Noida.
However, Authority officials said the legal issues are being dealt with. “The issue will be examined in detail. Within two days, we plan to set up a committee and sub-committees for finalising zones,” Ritu Maheshwari, CEO, Noida Authority, told TOI.
The Act also states that vendors cannot be evicted or relocated until a survey is done by the committee and they have been issued certificates or licences. Many vendors who were removed have been protesting across the city. The protest, however, was called off for a week on Monday after Authority officials met some vendors.
“Authority officials promised that they will allow vendors to operate for now, except those creating safety- or traffic-related problems. They also said that they will be forming the committee as per the Act. They will allot vending spaces in phases. We will review the situation on Sunday,” Sharma told TOI.
Following Sunday’s allocation of 12 locations for 1,001 workers across five work circles, Noida Authority said officials are working to cover all 10 work circles soon.
“Project engineers are making daily surveys to find dedicated spaces for vendors. The process will be completed by end of September,” said Avinash Tripathi, OSD, Noida Authority.
He added there are logistical issues that are being looked at. “There are areas where a car parking is to come up, an underpass has been planned or areas where land has been left for utility services or parks,” said Tripathi, adding that there are 8,000 registered vendors with Noida Authority who will be allocated space on priority.