PUDUCHERRY: Local Administration Minister N G Panneerselvam on Monday convened a meeting of the platform vendors of Grand Bazaar market and civic officials of the Pondicherry Municipality, to sort out issues relating to one of the UT’s oldest markets.
The minister, following a recent visit to the market, had asked footpath vendors to clear out from their current locations and stick to the area demarcated for them. The vendors had raised their voices against the dictate and resorted to a road blockade protesting the move to evict them, claiming that their livelihood would be affected.
Minister Panneerselvam requested the vendors to co-operate with civic officials in the drive to clear footpaths, which would facilitate the customers to walk inside.
The vendors agreed to the request and promised to co-operate with authorities by not occupying the footpaths. The civic officials, who were present in the meeting, urged the shopkeepers and sellers to close the gates of the bazaar by 11 pm and open at 3.30 am the next day.
The vendors demanded that the two-wheeler parking adjacent to the Grand Bazaar police station be kept open from 3.30 am.
They also requested the minister and civic officials to take steps to clear garbage, at least twice a day. The vendors also sought safe drinking water and toilet facilities. Besides, the vendors also pressed for the installation of CCTV cameras inside the market.