NEW DELHI: Delhi Police, along with officials of the enforcement department of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), jointly carried out a drive against encroachments on Connaught Place (CP) on Wednesday and Thursday.
NEW DELHIThe drive was carried out after the high court asked the officials to remove all encroachments since CP was a no-vending zone. According to police officials, around 50 vendors were removed during the drive, which is going to continue for the coming days.
New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) had filed a petition in the high court following which the court had stated that CP is a no-vending zone and that the corridors are meant for walking and not illegal hawkers or vendors.
The court also asked the civic bodies involved to take necessary steps in order to remove such encroachments. On Wednesday and Thursday, NDMC and Delhi Police officials carried out a drive and removed all the encroachments. Unaware of the situation, many of the vendors ran after picking up their belongings, while the items of the others who could not pick them up were seized.
“The drive against unauthorised vendors was conducted around Inner Circle, Outer Circle and Palika Bazar of Connaught Place by the local police along with NDMC. Fifty unauthorised vendors have been removed during this drive. The drive is going to continue,” said a senior police officer.
Speaking to TOI, Atul Bhargava, president, NDTA, said, “I am not against anyone’s livelihood, but the corridors are meant for walking and instead they are crowded because people have set up illegal shops and hawkers are all over the place. We need to set an example and not tolerate this. There is even an open food sale and hawkers take over the space and squat in the corridors. Alternative arrangements should be made at a park or anywhere for the hawkers to sustain their livelihood. Currently, CP has 63 verified hawkers while there must be around 250 people illegally occupying that space. The space is designated for people to walk around and it must be used liked that.”
TOI also spoke to NDMC officials, who stated that they are complying with the directions of the high court and will continue to do so.
