Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Oct 27: “The Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has identified as many as 66 pushcart vendors in the city, who are eligible to receive the identity cards to sell their products. The district in-charge minister will distribute the identity cards to pushcart vendors on November 1," said mayor Sudhir Shetty Kannur.
Speaking to reporters after holding a phone-in programme at his office here on Friday, October 27, he said, “The MCC has identified certain residential areas for the pushcart vendors to sell their products. The MCC had received nearly 900 applications from pushcart vendors for identity cards. In the first phase, 66 identity cards will be distributed. The pushcart will be attached with information about the areas permitted to sell the product.”
MCC commissioner Anand CL said, “Provisions have been made for pushcart vendors to sell their products in residential areas to avoid congestion in the city. There are several congested areas in the city. If the pushcart vendors sell their products in commercial areas, it will be more congested.
“Our officials have identified a few vending zones to facilitate vendors to sell their products. Once the location is identified and basic infrastructure including temporary shelters is ready, even we will provide an identity card to vendors,” the commissioner said.
The commissioner also said that MCC officials have seized earthen pots from nine shops that were serving ‘matka’ soda. The earthen pots used to serve the soda were washed in polluted water.
In phone-in programme earlier, a caller from Falnir complained that garbage was being dumped adjacent to her compound. In reply to this, the mayor said that the problem will be resolved as soon as possible. The health inspector will visit the spot and do the needful, he said.
Senior citizens and a few others complained that vehicles are being parked on the footpaths and due to that, pedestrians cannot walk on the footpath and hence compelled to walk on the roads. The mayor replied that the MCC officials will visit such places and take necessary measures to avoid inconvenience.
A resident of Kana, Surathkal complained that tankers are being parked on a vacant area near a residential area in Kana. They have taken the electricity and water connections illegally, he said. In reply, the mayor said, “In this regard, the MCC has issued a notice to the property owner. If the water connection is illegal, necessary measures will be taken to disconnect it.”
A caller from Derebail informed that mud had accumulated on the road and several roads in the area are not in a good state. In reply, the mayor assured that he will do the needful to set the problem right.
A lady from Mandarabail said, "A narrow passageway in the region is in a deteriorated condition. Several people in the region are using this passageway, hence the MCC should repair the same.” She also said that an electric pole in the area is in the state to fall. In reply, the mayor said that he will allot funds to repair the passageway and will work to set right other problems.
Several people complained that the MCC has failed to fill the ditches on the roads that were dug for the effective implementation of the Jalasiri scheme. The mayor assured that the problem will be cleared at the earliest.
A caller also urged the mayor to allot funds to construct a bridge to Ullal Hoige Island from the city. As there are several houses in Ullal, they need to travel long distance, said the caller.
Many callers alleged that officials in the MCC are working without any concern towards the public. In reply, the mayor said that if the public comes with concrete complaints and also bring to light the officials harassing them, he will initiate action against such officials.
A caller also demanded to initiate action against vendors who have encroached on footpaths near Lady Goshen Hospital.
MCC officials were present during the phone-in programme.