Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Sep 9: The officials of Udupi city municipal council (CMC) on Wednesday September 9 tried to forcibly evict a stree vendor near KSRTC bus stand, but were stopped by the public who protested against the sudden move.

It is said that the official led by CMC commissioner Manjunathayya tried to evict Kanakaraj, a fruit vendor who has been doing business here for the past 14 years. It is learnt that the eviction drive was conducted without any prior warning or notice.

Seeing the officials forcibly evict Kanakaraj and destroy his cart and fruits, the public gathered at the spot and protested against the officials.

"You are allowing illegal buildings to come up but targetting the poor who work hard for a living. You are not taking action against illegal buildings but you want to show your might on poor street vendors," the people told the officials.

Also, as per the central government order, the street vendors are supposed to be given badges and they also pay Rs 20 per day as tax to the CMC. Despite this, they are being targetted and harassed, the people said.

It is learnt that Kanakaraj and other street vendors were given permission to do business in interior areas of Ambalpady and other areas, but as business was not good in these places, Kanakaraj shifted to the spot near the bus stand.

Bowing to public pressure, the officials went back without completing the eviction.

Speaking to daijiworld, CMC commissioner Manjunathayya said that Kanakaraj had been warned earlier and told to evict, but he did not relent. "The street vendors have been told not to occupy areas with heavy traffic as it adds to the congestion. There are no particularly densely populated areas in Udupi where street vendors can do good business. I have already held talks with the DC to earmark certain areas for street vendors where the crowd is more. We conducted this raid as there were repeated complaints from the public."