Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jul 17: It has been found that a number of street vendors, who obtained trade licences meant for that purpose, have built pucca or katcha buildings to carry on with their trade, in violation of licence terms and conditions.

As many as 415 street vendors have obtained trade licences from the city municipality here. As per the conditions spelt out in the licences, the street vendors cannot construct permanent buildings and they have to conduct business through push carts. For this purpose, identity cards and trade licences have been issued to mobile street vendors and those who are stationary. But it is said that over 50 vendors have violated this rule.

 
Puttur city municipality office (file photo)

The officials have identified more than 50 street vendors who have constructed buildings without authorization and are carrying on with business. It is learnt that all these buildings came up during the previous administration. The officials came across cases of such violations in Darbe circle, Mukrampady, Koornadka Padilu, Krishnagara, Kemmayi, Bannur, Nehru Nagar, Bolwar, city bus stand, main road, court road and nearby areas. The push carts were found to have been extended into proper buildings by violating the licence terms.

Some of these people have built buildings without authorization. Some have built shops and hotels even though they hold licences for push carts. Some have leased out business to others, which is also illegal.

During the eviction operation conducted during February this year, which was led by taluk panchayat executive officer, Naveen Bhandary, 57 unauthorised structures had been removed. Structures which came up near the highway at Narimogaru, Mukrampady etc were cleared. Madhu S Manohar, municipal commissioner of this city, said that the municipal administration has already asked the traders to clear the unauthorised structures on their own with a warning that the municipality will demolish them if not done by themselves.