Vendors resist drive, demand rehabilitation site in Ambala

Tribune News Service

Ambala, March 2

Demanding a vending site for their rehabilitation before displacing them from Manav Chowk in Ambala City, vendors today put up a resistance against the anti-encroachment drive of the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) in Ambala. The Bhartiya Kisan Union and political parties also came out in support of the vendors and participated in the dharna started by them on Tuesday.

As per the information, the HSVP had issued a notice asking the vendors to vacate the land, and on Tuesday, the officials along with the police force reached the site to get it vacated. As the news spread, the BKU (Charuni) and Congress leaders also reached the spot and held a protest against the action.

Ramji, president of the Rehri Fari union, said, “There are nearly 500 vendors who have been earning there livelihood here. On February 22, a notice was issued by the HSVP to vacate the land within three days. We have been issued vendor’s license by the corporation. We will give an appropriate answer if the administration tries to vacate the land forcefully. They should have informed the union timely. We are ready to vacate the land, but the vendors should be provided suitable land before displacing us.”

BKU (Charuni) activist Jai Singh said, “We extend our support to the vendors and will not allow the government to displace them.”

Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee treasurer Rohit Jain said, “Nearly seven years ago, the vendors were displaced from another location and they were allotted a place at Manav Chowk and now, they are being displaced from here as well while no other space is being allotted to them to earn their livelihood. The administration must have a sympathetic view towards the poor vendors and provide them a suitable location.”

Later, a delegation of vendors along with Congress leader Rohit Jain met Deputy Commissioner Ashok Sharma. The drive was suspended later in the evening.

“I held a meeting with officials of the HSVP and the protesting vendors. The land will be vacated soon. The HSVP will resume its drive in a couple of days”, said Ashok Sharma, Deputy Commissioner.

150 illegal properties sealed in Gurugram

Gurugram: A demolition drive was held at the U Block of the DLF, Phase 3, on Tuesday. Accompanied by over 100 cops and two JCB machines, the team of the DTP, amid massive resistance, sealed 150 properties where commercial activities were illegally being held from residential plots. The drive was carried in the main U1 lane of the licensed colony where people were running beauty salons, property dealer shops, restaurants, medical shops, grocery shops etc. — TNS