DARJEELING, : Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief executive Anit Thapa on
Sunday said that hawkers will no longer be allowed to operate from footpaths in
Darjeeling. He strongly warned that those found violating this directive would
be ineligible for allotment of shops in the upcoming Hawker’s Market currently
under construction at Chowrasta.
Thapa,
who is also the BGPM president, made the announcement during a meeting with
hawkers at the BGPM party office here.
The
hawkers had approached the GTA chief executive regarding the issue of some
others, particularly at Nehru Road, continuing to sell goods on the roadside
despite the area being declared a non-vending zone.
“I
tried to be good to everyone, but it seems that it’s not working. You all
appear to be fighting among yourselves, which doesn’t look good. I have
provided you with a temporary place to sell your products and have repeatedly
assured you that the Hawkers’ Market is being constructed as quickly as
possible. I even told you that we would begin allotting stalls before the
entire project is completed,” said Thapa during the meeting. He was also heard
instructing the Darjeeling Municipality to remove anyone found selling goods on
the roadside.
Thapa
was referring to recent conflicts between hawkers who had been given temporary
stalls at Darjeeling Gorkha Ranga Manch and those selling their products along
the Nehru Road stretch. The dispute began when hawkers at the Gorkha Ranga Manch
alleged that tourists were not visiting their stalls as some hawkers had
started selling from Nehru Road, which had already been declared a non-vending
zone.
Many
hawkers had been relocated from various areas and given temporary stalls at
Gorkha Ranga Manch until the Hawkers’ Market is completed. Chowrasta and its
surrounding areas had been officially declared vendor-free zones. However,
hawkers were once again seen selling their products along Nehru Road.
“I
request all of you not to bring this issue to me again until the Hawkers’
Market is completed, and I will not entertain any further discussions on it. I
will no longer allow anyone to sell from the footpaths. Those found doing so
will not be allotted shops in the Hawkers’ Market or permitted to sell from the
road,” said Thapa, emphasizing that this was his final decision.
