Residents, DAV school staff up in arms

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 5

A day before the Municipal Corporation’s drive to shift vendors to Sector 15, local residents and DAV Model School Principal, along with teachers, held a protest at the site where around 850 vendors are to be moved.

SP (City) Vineet Kumar and two DSPs had a tough time when the agitating residents and the school authorities had a joint meeting with them earlier.

One of the residents asked the police officials, “Why have you come here when you cannot convey our stand regarding vendors?” A man standing beside the SP retorted, “Have you come here to threaten us so that we cooperate in the drive tomorrow.” These were some of the comments the police had to face today.

However, the SP told them that they were only implementing the orders. If they had any grievances, they could give it in writing and he would hand it over to the authorities concerned.

DAV Principal Anuja Sharma told the police, “Our hostel and classrooms are right in front of the vending sites. How will we manage the sound level? There is an issue of safety of our girl students and law and order too. There is only one toilet for about 1,000 vendors. There will be open defecation. It will be inappropriate for our students and staff.”

Local resident Gurmit Anand, a retired professor, said, “Who will keep a check on the open defecation here? It will be a nuisance for residents.”

Another resident said: “I am a prisoner in my own house on Wednesday when there is apni mandi as there is a lot of chaos outside. We cannot imagine the situation when a large number of vendors will sit here and park vehicles on roads outside our houses every day.”

“There will be a civil war-like situation here. If there are about 1,000 vendors, tell us where is the place to park these many vehicles? In addition to this, there will be vehicles of visitors too,” said an advocate, a local resident.

Panel okays Sec 15 site

In a meeting on Thursday, the Town Vending Committee held that Sector 15 will be retained as the vendors’ site.

The sub-committee’s recommendation to retain the site was approved. The committee also approved the cancellation of registration licence of vendors, who failed to clear their dues up to November 30.

It was also decided that a helpline will be started where people can send the photographs of unauthorised vending locations for necessary action.