Mayor tells street vendors to shift to vending zone

Promises vendors facilities to set up business at new area

Mayor Kavita Sanil on Tuesday appealed to street vendors to shift to the vending zone developed near the bus stand at State Bank of India junction.

Addressing the gathering during a workshop for street vendors organised jointly by the department of urban development and state institute for urban development (SIUD), Kavita Sanil said, “It has become inevitable to maintain the aesthetics of the city that is gearing up to become a Smart City.”

The mayor also requested the vendors to come out with their demands, if any, restricted to the vending zone, as the MCC was ready to provide any facilities to enable them set up their business in a new place.

The mayor, who claimed to have been receiving various complaints against street vendors, said, “According to the native vendors most of the chunk of 70% of street vendors are outsiders, while the traders who pay due taxes to government claim meagre returns against the better rewarding concerns of street vendors, yet devoid of paying any rent or taxes. There are also complaints of sub-leasing and renting the kiosks, according to the particular complaint received from local Corporator Naveen D’Souza. The corporator, who has identified three such kiosks, want the Corporation to remove the same, for the allottees have been making hay, by collecting a monthly rent of Rs 10,000.”

Doubling as vendors

Some of the other traders have been also questioning the sops extended to street vendors who have been conning authorities. They arrive in cars and park the same near Nehru Maidan, before doubling up as street vendors, the mayor said, quoting the complaints.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumar, who also made a similar appeal, said, “Apart from creating a healthy society, it is equally important to create a hygienic environment.”

Hussain Kunjimonu, Ullal City Municipal Council president, said the situation at his place is similar, where though 70 more street vendors have been identified against 150, they are dithering to toe the line.

District Urban Development Cell director Prasanna said, “It is a first of its kind workshop involving street vendors in the State, with unabated street vending triggering civic as well as traffic woes. In all, 817 street vendors have been identified in the district, who are governed by Street Vending (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2013.”