Gandhi Bazaar vendors resist eviction drive

Gandhi Bazaar vendors resist eviction drive


Express News Service First Published : 18 Jul 2010 05:40:42 AM ISTLast Updated : 18 Jul 2010 08:01:58 AM IST
BANGALORE: BBMP officials on Saturday warned fruit and vegetable hawkers, who have encroached upon the footpaths of Gandhi Bazaar Main Road, to vacate the place.
In the morning, officials came to clear the roadside stalls. However, since the vendors staged a protest, officials had to leave the place after warning the vendors that they would continue their drive on Sunday.
At 7 am on Saturday, when BBMP staff came to clear the footpaths of the encroachments, fruit and vegetable vendors told officials that they were doing business at the place for the past 20 years. They had legal licences from BBMP and so the officials could not evict them, they said.
Vendors told officials that when Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had recently visited Vidyarthi Bhavan, he had promised to provide alternative place for these vendors to carry on with their business. But, so far, nothing had been done.
“We have invested Rs 20,000 on buying fruits, flowers and vegetables. But the officials are dumping the commodities into their vehicles. Who will bear the loss?,” a vendor said.
The drive was conducted under the supervision of chief engineer (south) Ananthaswamy, executive engineer Rajesh and assistant executive engineer Srinivasamurthy.