Nonsense on hawking zones

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has come up with a priceless idea to deal with the problem of hawkers. It is the kind of proposal that could only be thought up by somebody who is totally out of touch with reality. Having found it impossible (because of the lack of political will) to organise and implement plans for hawking and no-hawking zones, the BMC has hit upon the notion of designating only no-hawking zones. It is in the process of persuading itself that this is a brilliant solution to an intractable problem. How so? Well, firstly it will mean that the BMC can avoid run-ins with irate residents who don't want their pavements and open spaces turned into food melas and shopping plazas as a result of the BMC assuming responsibility for accommodating hawkers removed from other areas. Second, the BMC can avoid regularising hawkers which the process of relocating them in designated zones implies. Just think of it. No hassles, no court injunctions, no angry morchas. All the BMC will berequired to do to implement a no-hawking zone policy is to notify certain areas and, maybe, put up a few prohibitory signboards. Everyone will be happy. The reality, of course, is completely different. The reason why such a policy appears attractive to civic leaders is that it helps them dodge their responsibility to clean up the city. It offers no solution to the problem of the proliferation of hawkers and the nuisance caused to residents and pedestrians. If the BMC should decide to designate areas which are presently used by hawkers as no-hawking zones it will mean nothing at all unless the authorities are prepared to follow up with action on two fronts -- relocating the hawkers and coping with the political and law and order fallout. But those are exactly the jobs the BMC has proved incapable of doing. It is unwilling to take on the political lobbies and it is unable to relocate. So it is taking the easy way out. Is it the BMC's intention to designate all pavements and open spaces in the city which havenot yet been taken over by hawkers as no-hawking zones? Does it have the kind of incorruptible and vigilant staff required to ensure no-hawking zones will remain no-hawking zones? Citizens groups will have to do what they can to bring civic leaders to their senses.

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