Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 15: It has been found that people who obtain permission to run their shops at various locations, then extend the stalls to the footpaths where they spread out their wares and do business. The number of such shops has proliferated particularly after the enforcement of the lockdown.

If the citizens park their vehicles by the roadsides for a few minutes, the police tow away the vehicles in the name of 'Operation Tiger.' Poor vendors selling their goods, fruits, vegetables etc in pushcarts by the roadside too are chased away. Because of these shops, people are made to walk on the roads even though footpaths exist.

Most of the shops occupying the footpaths are those where vegetables, fruits etc are sold. Instead of confining themselves to small spots for which they have obtained permission, they extend their shops with the help of sheets or tarpaulins. There are shops which are laid out till the edges of the main roads. In some places, even provision stores have been following similar tricks. Therefore their customers have to stand on the road to buy something.

Before the lockdown began, the city corporation's revenue officials had undertaken measures against such shops, penalised shop owners who have extended their shops, and evicted them. The action was mainly taken at places like Urwa Store, Pandeshwar etc. But during the lockdown period, no measures were taken as the items dealt with by these shops are treated as essentials.

The officials said that the operation will be resumed as everything is falling back to normal. They said that there is no permission to extend shops after getting permission only for a small room to conduct business city mayor, Premananda Shetty, said that complaints about selling goods on footpaths are being received, and the officials will be instructed to resume operations against such shops.