Civic body’s policy for hawkers hits a wall

“After we received the model byelaws (from the state government) for hawkers,we have stopped execution of the civic policy. The state government regulations overrule the civic body policy and there is a need for getting clearance from the civic general body before implementation,” Pravin Ashtikar,Deputy Municipal Commissioner (special),said. Some civic officials fear that going back to the general body would mean another round of delays and arguments.

The implementation of the PMC hawkers’ policy began soon after it was approved in February 2008 after a heated debate among corporators. As per the policy,the civic body could use Rs 27 crore from the union government for rehabilitation projects in which stalls,5 feet X 6 feet,could be provided to hawkers. The civic body had also planned a ‘no-hawkers’ zone on 45 roads in the city.

There is not much difference in the civic body policy and the state government-framed rules as 90 per cent of the issues are same. “But in certain areas there are differences between the civic body policy and the government rules. Therefore,the process of proposing certain amendments to the hawkers’ policy has been started,” Ashtikar said. The state government regulations include setting up of a rehabilitation committee. Also,it has characterised hawkers into roadside and mobile vendors. The civic body considers only one category,that of roadside vendors. The state government has also defined two categories,permanent and temporary,for ‘no-hawkers’ zone.

“We will table the byelaws before the legal committee before getting clearance from the general body. Thereafter,suggestions and objections would be sought from citizens and sent to the state government for approval,” Ashtikar said.

“The process of rehabilitation would be started only after the bylaws are approved,” he said,adding that the issuing of identity cards to hawkers has also been sought now and will be started later. There are around 10,200 hawkers registered with the civic body,but the number is likely to increase,Ashtikar said. The construction of buildings for hawkers is going on at Baner,Kharadi,Wadgaonsheri,Vadgaon Budruk and Parvati where 1,127 hawkers can be rehabilitated. “The search for new sites for the rehabilitation of hawkers is on and so far around 50 sites have been visited for the purpose,but none of them has been finalised,” he added.