No encroachment beyond 50ft distance of crossings: Hakim

Kolkata: Mayor Firhad Hakim passed a clear message to the hawkers on Tuesday saying they should not encroach beyond 50 feet distance of the crossings in the city and that using of plastic is discarded while running the business.

Hakim held a meeting with the affected hawkers in the Gariahat fire and several hawkers' organisations in the presence of senior officials of police and Fire department. In and around 58 crossings in the city encroachment has become a big problem.

"They have been asked to remove the plastics used and the trolley-based stalls that they are due to get will have shed. We are planning to give them special type of umbrellas so that customers do not get drenched during monsoons. I have seen this type of umbrellas in Thailand that can be made here as well," Hakim said.

A model of the trolley-based stall which will be 5 to 6 feet long and 3 to 4 feet wide will be taken to Gariahat on Thursday so that the hawkers see and decide whether it is serving their purpose. "We are formulating hawkers' policy to regulate them in the city. They have already agreed to only occupy one third space of the pavements. Police will demarcate the place and if they flout action will be taken as per law," Hakim said.

The Mayor said the one time compensation of Rs 20,000 to each of the affected hawkers will be directly transferred to the bank accounts through RTGS by the weekend. A list of the affected hawkers has been prepared by Gariahat police station.