KOLKATA: Traders of New Market and surrounding areas have threatened to go on a strike if the KMC does not act on its complaint against illegal encroachment by hawkers in the entire belt.
Around 5,000 traders of New Market, Sreeram Arcade, Treasure Island, Firpo’s Market and other markets in the vicinity had in March 2015 downed shutters for 72 hours to air their grievances against a growing hawker menace in the neighbourhood. At the time, then mayor Sovan Chatterjee had intervened and assured traders that civic body would launch a drive against the illegal encroachers and old time hawkers would be handed proper identity cards.
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Law-enforcing agencies must be alert to preempt encroachment. It is much more difficult to evict unauthorised hawkers once they have set up business.
But the promised drive never happened. On the contrary, the hawker count has increased after lockdown was lifted, driving tax-paying traders against the wall. They have now again assembled under the umbrella of Joint Traders’ Forum (JTF) and sent a charter of demands to the civic administration and police. If the demands are not met, they will declare another strike.
According to JTF secretary Rajeev Singh, while most markets in the city were witnessing a revival in demand and business after incurring huge losses during the lockdown, the invasion of hawkers on Bertram Street, Humayun Place, Lindsay Street and other areas had choked business in the locality by making it impossible for shoppers to get access to the markets.
Singh alleged that they had found encroachment of “newer areas” by “new faces” after unlock. “New hawkers in droves have encroached upon newer areas especially at the entry and exit points to New Market, Sriram Arcade, Simpark and other markets making it difficult for the shoppers to move freely. In our charter of demands we had clearly mentioned that our business was getting affected due to blocking of entry/exit gates by the hawkers. Though some action was taken from time to time by the KMC and police, we are now back to square situation. If this continues we will be forced to call a strike again,” Singh said.
This apart, the parking lots around New Market have again been grabbed by some hawkers, alleged Brij Bhusan Tiwari, a leader of the JTF.
New Market police recently raided Bertram Street, Humayun Place Finwick Bazar Street and Lindsay Street. However, the drive was short-lived and hawkers are back again, alleged a section of traders.
Kali Khatick, a hawker union leader in central Kolkata, said they would recommend action against a section of unruly hawkers who have been dodging hawking rules. But, he sought cooperation from traders in streamlining hawking at places around New Market.