KOCHI: Notwithstanding the protests from the trade unions and the traders, the Corporation will go ahead with the crackdown on unauthorised bunk shops located within the city limits.
The drive, which will start next week, is aimed at clearing all the bunk shops operating without licence, said the Corporation officials.
“As per the directions from the Mayor, the health standing committee convened a meeting of the trade unions. We cannot shy away from implementing the order since the rules are pretty clear. No one can set up the stalls as per their wish. We will start the drive from next week,” said V K Minimol, Health Standing Committee chairperson.
According to her,”Already we have started the eviction drive at the Chambakkara market. As per the official records there are 142 kiosks and 137 petty shops have licence. No new shops will be allowed to come up in the city without the permission or approval of the Committee”.
Meanwhile, the civic body has conducted a survey for ascertaining the number of street vendors under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM).It found the city had over 2,300 street vendors.
An overwhelming majority of the street vendors are the benamis of wealthy persons, according to the traders’ association.
“There are several persons, who are engaged in the business,to eke out their livelihood. The genuine ones should indeed be rehabilitated,” said a member of Pettikkada Vandikkada Vyapari Association. It was at the last council meeting the Mayor announced the decision to crackdown on the 4,000 unauthorised bunk shops.