Recently the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) announced that vending and no-vending zones will be demarcated in the city by the end of this month and hawkers will only be allowed only on four streets in each of the 200 wards that come under its limits.
Only streets with a minimum width of 40 feet will be chosen as vending zones, which will be on bus routes, near temples and other public spaces so that the hawkers won’t lack customers.
This came as good news to residents of the neighbourhood as they are hopeful that they will get the footpaths back to themselves. However, a week has passed by and now residents have opened up about the issue.
Suresh, general secretary of United Welfare Association – Ambattur (UWAA), said, “The Corporation wants to give license to the vendors and it is not a good thing. This will lead to further encroachments. Further, there is a safety issue as well because people living in residential areas will not like strangers setting up shops at the roads because there is a potential for those people to exercise thievery or aid wrongdoers as well. This must be well thought out.”
Echoing his views, Ganeshan, of Korattur, said, “The vendors must be identified and must be given places at residential areas that they belong to. Strangers and newcomers must be carefully handled. However, I am sure officials will get their act together and make this plan work if they go through with it.”
On 21 February, members of UWAA met with an Anna Nagar Residents Welfare Association and held discussions on the matter. UWAA members told Ambattur Talk that residents of neighbouring locality are against the move as well.
Further, UWAA members are preparing to send a letter to the Corporation Commissioner on the same.
According to officials, meetings with street vendor committees have already begun. It must be noted that street vendor committee was formed in December last year and has six elected members from vendor associations, four representatives from NGOs and residents welfare associations.
Vendors are supposed to be shifted in a phased manner after discussions. The Corporation has so far given ID cards to 20,638 vendors who will be allotted space in the zones.