Done but ‘not dusted’: Encroachments reappear in city!

By Naman Atolia

From recent times, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has emerged as the talk of the town due to the anti-encroachment drives. Ironically, in a case where the corporation is carrying out these drives, on the another side, it has failed to review the areas where such drives have been undergone. In numerous areas of the city including 1100 quarters, Imami Gate, Royal Market, Moti Mosque, encroachments have remerged causing chaos in the city. In the 1100 quarters, encroachments were removed in front of the Hanuman temple of the areas, a drive was conducted in the month of May in 2023. But from some time, one can actually find those vendors at the area operating their business. Due to the same, the footpath which was originally designed for the pedestrians is now occupied by the street vendors. This has taken the area to the precedent condition where people have to suffer while travelling since foot walkers have no way to commute due to the fact that their footpath has been occupied by the vendors. The problem doesn’t ends here. The vehicles passing by have to also experience daily hassles while travelling due to the commotion extra commotion created in the area.

At the ground, when ‘The Hitavada’ spoke to the vendors of the area, they mentioned that they are here to earn their living. “Everyday we start working at 3 or 4 in the morning in order to serve the customers, overcoming all the challenges from the side of administration and locals. We do have responsibilities and if our shops are removed and seized by the administration, who will then take of our families and children?,” one of the vendors said. Demanding for the development of a Hawkers’ point exclusively for those of the area, another vendor said that we are indulged in the serving the people with fast food from more than a decade. Suddenly, by the orders of the administration, a squad comes and removes us from our place. Even, no alternative place is allocated to us where we can continue with our work. There are various hawkers’ point in the city, the administration should develop one such venue where we can earn a living, which will then ensure our financial security too, he demanded.

When we interacted with the locals at the area, they told that the area of encroachment was specifically constructed as a footpath. But overtime, due to encroachments, the whole route has been developed into a vendors’ spot and fast food hub. The original motive behind the construction has not been fulfilled which is yet leading us to believe that the money spent for its construction and the previous drive for removing it has all went in vain. He added that the concerned authority should employ a more vigilant approach towards this matter and should resolve the problem with an immediate effect.

Not only limited to 1100 quarters, several areas of the city including Imami Gate, Moti Mosque, Royal Market and Bhanpur Road are also suffering from this problem. At Bhanpur Road encroachments by the street vendors have made the roads turn narrow, reducing their breath leading to chaos are fracas in the area. Due to the absence of facilities there, people have now become habitual of parking their vehicles on road which is serving as a catalyst to these problems. Due to the absence of footpath, people too walk on roads increasing the problems. “We are engaged in continuous eradication of encroachments from the city, this is a continuous process and will continue to do further.” Prem Shankar Shukla, PRO at BMC told.