Vendors to face action from today

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, December 5

Sectors 1-6 and Sector 17 will be free from street vendors and other sectors will have the required number of vendors as the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, along with the police personnel, will carry out a major operation to evict them from tomorrow.

However, essential vendors like cobbler, tea seller and barber and moving vendors will not be removed as per the Street Vendors Act. A total of 4,284 street vendors have been allotted sites and they will be given spaces as per the draw of lots. Licenses of 2,674 vendors of all categories have already been cancelled for not paying monthly fee for the past several months.

About eight drone and 75 video cameras will keep an eye on street vendors from Friday onwards. CCTV cameras will specially be put up in Sector 17 which houses the maximum number of vendors.

Most vendors from Sector 17, 19 and 22 will be shifted to Sector 15, while those in Sector 1-6 will be moved to the rear side of the Sector 7 market.

UT SSP Nilambari Jagdale said: “We have made elaborate arrangements to maintain law and order. If anyone tries to disturb the law and order, strict action will be taken against them. We may lodge an FIR, too, if need be.”

Sector 17 sealed

The authorities late on Thursday evening sealed the Sector 17 Plaza to ensure that vendors do not come here on Friday. The police have barricaded the area and also installed cameras.

No. of Vendors

• 9,356 street, essential and moving vendors registered in 2016 survey
• 4,284 street vendors to get 6’5 space; other vendors’ category to remain unmoved
• Licence of 2,674 vendors cancelled for default of monthly payment
• Sectors 1-6, 17: No-vending zone
• Sector 19 near Palika Bazaar: 30 vendors
• Sector 22 (rear side of the market): 40-45 vendors
• Sector 15: 850 vendors