BANGALORE: Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda defended the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for evicting the roadside vendors to pave way for smooth movement of traffic on Gandhi Bazaar Main Road in Basavanagudi recently.
Replying to a calling attention notice moved by the Opposition Leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah, he said the action was necessitated following complaints from residents and pedestrians about the inconvenience caused by the roadside vendors.
Promising the Opposition leader to look into the problems being faced by the affected, the chief minister said suitable alternative arrangements would be provided to the vendors.
Earlier, raising the issue, Siddaramaiah charged that BBMP officials resorted to evict the vendors without serving any notice.
“By acting mercilessly, the officials have robbed the livelihood of the many people who were operating from the place for over fifty years,” he stated.
Making a fervent appeal to the chief minister to allow the vendors to resume their business in the same place till alternate arrangements were made, the Opposition leader also demanded compensation for the affected.
Some legislators representing the city, including Roshan Baig, N L Narendra Babu and Dinesh Gundu Rao, also criticised the action of the BBMP officials on the issue.