Dibrugarh: Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation (DMC) has constituted a dedicated civilian monitoring team named the ‘DMC Enforcement Squad'. The initiative, announced on Friday, aims to tackle the persistent issue of footpath encroachment and unauthorised street vending.
The newly formed squad comprises nine citizens, including five men and four women, who will serve as the civic body's eyes and ears on the ground. Their primary responsibility will be to monitor and report violations across the city, equipped with the authority to document infractions through photographs and submit formal complaints.
"This initiative represents a collaborative approach between the municipal corporation and citizens to address the growing challenge of footpath encroachment. By involving citizens directly in enforcement efforts, we aim to ensure sustainable compliance with municipal regulations," Dibrugarh mayor Saikat Patra said.
DMC has provided the enforcement squad with a dedicated phone number to facilitate swift communication and response to violations. This measure is expected to streamline the reporting process and enable prompt action against offenders.
The formation of the citizen squad comes in the wake of several recent eviction drives conducted by DMC against illegal occupants of public footpaths, particularly targeting unauthorised street vendors and fast-food stalls. Despite imposing fines during these operations, authorities have observed a recurring pattern, where vendors return to occupy the same spaces after a brief period.
"We have noticed that punitive measures alone are not sufficient to address this issue. The presence of our citizen squad will create continuous monitoring, making it difficult for encroachers to resume illegal occupation of public spaces," deputy mayor Ujjal Phukon said.
The municipal corporation has also issued directives to all street vendors operating on footpaths to relocate to designated vending zones through proper administrative procedures. The move aims to balance the livelihood needs of vendors with the public's right to unobstructed pedestrian pathways.