This story is from February 14, 2019

Chandigarh: UT seeks report on street vending policy

The UT administration has sought a report on the progress of street vending policy implementation in city. As the matter is pending before the Punjab and Haryana high court, the administration is keeping an eye on the implementation of policy by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
Chandigarh: UT seeks report on street vending policy
There are total 9,200 vendors in city.
CHANDIGARH: The UT administration has sought a report on the progress of street vending policy implementation in city. As the matter is pending before the Punjab and Haryana high court, the administration is keeping an eye on the implementation of policy by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
According to information, the civic body has completed the first round of the draw of lots already and given away 3,000 street-vending sites around the city.
It has suspended the process for the time being, since the matter is before the HC.
A senior civic body official said that if they get the go ahead from the HC, they will soon start issuing identity cards, certificates and other related documents to the resettled vendors of various sectors. Since the engineering department has already earmarked the sites in various sectors, the enforcement wing of the civic body along with the engineering department will start handing over the possession of the new sites to these vendors, he added.
The town vending committee has already approved a fine of Rs 50,000 and registration of a criminal case if any vendor is found procuring fake certificates. The authorities will check the documents of the vendors time and again and in the coming days, certificates equipped with security feature will be issued to them.
Recently, the HC had expressed its dissatisfaction over the definition given by UT to street vending under the street vending act. The HC had pointed out that how come footpaths and parking zones could be called streets. The HC had made a satirical remark and said that if footpaths and parking zones could be streets then UT should also include parks under the street vending act and allow street vendors there.
There are total 9,200 vendors in city. Of these, 1,900 deal in essential commodities and they will stay at their existing place of vending due to the nature of their services. Besides, 6,500 registered vendors, dealing in non-essential commodities, will be accommodated in vending zones identified by the Chandigarh administration.
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About the Author
Rajinder Nagarkoti

Rajinder Nagarkoti is Principal Correspondent with The Times of India, Chandigarh. He covers Chandigarh Administration and CBI, NIA courts in Panchkula.

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