Protest mounts against stalls for hawkers at Darjeeling Chowrasta

EOI, DARJEELING, DECEMBER 26, 2023 : Social organizations, health clubs and environmentalists under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) have lodged a police complaint urging the authorities to stop construction work at Chowrasta, the most popular square of the Darjeeling hill town. 

On Tuesday, JAC members reached the Bhutia Busty Road attached to Chowrasta to find construction workers digging large holes on the ground. On being informed that the digging was for construction of stalls for the hawkers, the JAC rushed to the Sadar police station to lodge a complaint. 

"The workers were digging holes on the road purportedly for construction of stalls around the Mall. There is already a case pending in the High Court against the construction of a hawkers market in the Mall and Chowrasta area," said FOSEP (Federation of Societies of Environment Protection) secretary Bharat Prakash Rai. 

In 2014, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee laid the foundation stone for the construction of a building at Chowrasta for the New Mahakal Market. However, citizens had opposed the decision and filed a case in the Calcutta High Court. With the matter being sub-judice, construction did not start. 

"We have been advised by our lawyers to seek prohibitory orders under section 144 and also file a fresh plea in the High Court which we will do if the construction is not stopped," said Rai. Initially, the hawkers were evacuated from Nehru Road leading from Keventers and rehabilitated to the Sunflower Hotel Road below Chowrasta. 

A few years later several hawkers set up temporary wooden stalls around the Mall below the Mahakal temple, amidst protest by elders, health clubs and social organizations. Following the G20 meeting in April in Darjeeling, the hawkers of the new Mahakal Market mostly selling warm clothes and souvenirs were shifted to Gorkha Ranga Mancha Bhawan (Bhanu Bhawan) premise with the assurance by the Darjeeling Municipality and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration to be relocated to a more suitable place of business. 

The 106 hawkers and stall owners under the New Mahakal Market Hawkers Association complained they had failed to do proper business and maintain livelihood for their family because of the location and demanded they be shifted back to the old place at Mall. 

After having failed to provide an alternative place, the Darjeeling Municipality and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration decided to construct a temporary place for the 106 hawkers opposite to the Mahakal Temple area. 

The JAC however refused to yield from their stand of not allowing construction at Chowrasta and around the Mall area. "The citizens of the hills including the children need a tranquil and peaceful area for recreation and exercise. There should not be loud noise and disturbances. Chowrasta is the crown of Darjeeling town. 

We will not allow construction that disturbs the serenity of the area," said Rai. Interestingly, the Darjeeling Police organized the Melo Tea festival with rock band competition and the Darjeeling Hill Marathon from December 22 to 24 at Chowrasta. When reminded about the dependency of the hawkers on their stalls to earn livelihood, the JAC said it was the responsibility of the Municipality and the GTA to find an alternative place. 

"We understand that the hawkers need to earn money to feed their family. However, the civic body and the GTA can identify an alternative place to relocate the hawkers. It will require a big area to accommodate all 106 but they can be grouped in smaller numbers and shifted in other places," said Rai. 

The FOSEP secretary said the Bhutia Busty Road on which the digging is taking place will inconvenience the residents and school students. 

"The road is very narrow. If a market is established by cutting the sides of the road, people will find it hard to walk and even a small vehicle will not be able to ply. We will wait for the winter vacation to get over and arrange a protest with school children and different samaj (communities) of the area," said Rai. 

Officials of the Darjeeling Municipality and the GTA refused to comment when reached for their reaction on the development.