Hill unity on hawkers

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, May 5: The Trinamul Congress (Hills) and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha have agreed on the need to make Mall Road free of hawkers though the two parties had held diametrically opposite views on the traders who set up stalls along the pathways in Darjeeling.

The unified voice was the biggest outcome of a meeting between the Morcha-run Darjeeling municipality and the hill Trinamul leadership yesterday.

Addressing the media along with Trinamul leaders in his chamber yesterday, the municipal chairman, Amar Singh Rai, said: "The Trinamul leaders present here have also agreed on the need to remove hawkers from Mall Road. Although just 30 hawkers were allowed, the number has been growing every other day. We plan to resettle the 30 hawkers and remove the rest. Trinamul has agreed on the issue."

When a confirmation was sought, N.B. Khawash, the general secretary of Trinamul (hills), nodded in agreement.

Rai said the 30 hawkers would be accommodated at a market complex in Chowk Bazar. "An e-tender for the complex has been invited. The work has not started because of the model code of conduct," he added.

In 2012, the municipality had removed 182 hawkers from Nehru Road, which is a stretch between Chowrasta and Keventers, and given them space to spread their wares on Chowrasta Road (that leads to Hotel Alice Villa).

"However, 30 hawkers who would put up temporary stalls in front of shutters of closed shops (along Nehru Road) also demanded that they be given space as their livelihood was at stake. They were allowed to trade along Mall Road on a temporary basis," said Rai.

During the eviction drive on Nehru Road, Trinamul had supported the hawkers.

A section of Trinamul leaders, sources in the party said, were not happy with the agreement on the hawkers. "The issue was discussed at length after yesterday's meeting at the municipality and not everyone in the party is happy," said a mid-ranking Trinamul leader.