Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, Aug 5: The officials of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) on Thursday August 4 evening demolished petty shops in Kavoor market under police protection, allegedly without serving prior notice to the shop owners. Even fish stalls were razed.

The demolition resulted in a flash protest near the Kavoor market premises. Fisherwomen and vegetable vendors were seen selling their stocks in the pouring rains.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Abdulla, who has been running his fish stall from 25 years, alleged that the shops were demolished without issuing prior notice. "It is true that the waste water was flowing on the road and a few days ago we had stopped it. We had also constructed a drain for it following the instructions from MCC officials. Now they have demolished our shops all of a sudden.

"When we questioned the officials, they said that the demolishion was done to construct the new market for which ground-breaking ceremony was held a month ago. They could have demolished after giving an alternative shelter to all of us. They did not even construct a toilet near the market. We have seen male migrants from various places answering nature's call in front of women fish vendors," he said.

Hemavathi, who sells fish, expressed dissatisfaction at MCC mayor Harinath who is also the corporator of the ward. "Harinath had promised that he would provide us a temporary shelter during the previous elections. It has been three years since then and now he is the mayor of MCC, but we are still without a shelter.

"We do not have any basic facility here. Forget about toilet, there is no drinking water facility either. There was a tap but they have removed it. They have snatched our daily bread from us," she said.

City unit secretary of SDPI Mohammed Haneef alleged, "When the MCC officials can let a private building encroach the market space, why can't they provide a temporary shelter? They could have done the demolition even after the rainy season. We will stop the traffic from tomorrow and let everyone face the heat till all the street vendors are allowed to earn their daily bread here."

Acted as per locals' complaint: Mayor 

When contacted, mayor Harinath said, "We acted as per the complaint by locals. We had issued a warning to the vendors about six months ago that waste fish water should not be let on the road. We had also told them that we would be starting the work on the new market on August 7 or 8. We will give them an alternative shelter within six months, but till then they will have to make their own arrangements."

Asked why vegetable vendors were also evacuated, he said, "The property belongs to the MCC. The vegetable vendors would sit on the roads to sells their goods. We have also removed their tarpaulins."