City evictions

It is good that the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has launched an eviction drive in the city to clear footpaths and pavements from rampant encroachment by vendors and shopkeepers. Encroachment of footpaths and pavements has been a major problem in Guwahati in the past few decades. Encroachment is very prominent in Uzanbazar, Fancybazar, Ganeshguri, Beltola, Chandmari, RG Baruah Road and Six-Mile. While such encroachments have caused immense inconvenience to pedestrians, these places have also become Covid transmission hotspots and criminal dens. A sizable section of these vendors is poor people belonging to various indigenous communities. The authorities owe some responsibility towards them, which can be fulfilled by earmarking some vending areas in different pockets of the city. The civic authorities have miserably failed to provide proper facilities to the taxpayers and other residents of the city with shopping areas in their respective localities. In most civilized cities, the civic administration provides designated shopping areas and markets in different localities so that the people do not have to go to markets located far away, particularly for buying household provisions. Providing market space to vendors of indigenous communities also has other benefits; one – this government is committed to protecting the 'jaati-mati-bheti' of the indigenous people, and providing vital livelihood support to vendors of these communities will go a long way in fulfilling this commitment. And two – vegetables brought by vendors belonging to the indigenous communities are free from dangerous chemical fertilizers and pesticides which are found in high doses in vegetables produced and sold by immigrants and suspected infiltrators. The GMC and GMDA can set up special market-places for vendors of the indigenous communities, particularly for the tribal women vendors, in different parts of the city. There must be some plots of government land lying unused, or under encroachment of various unscrupulous elements including suspected infiltrators. These can be utilized for the purpose. Certain areas, like the space below the Six-Mile flyover, can be cleared of encroachment and illegal markets, and designated for use by vendors belonging to the indigenous communities. Vendors allotted space in such designated market spaces should be given identity cards too so that the markets do not become dens of antisocial and criminal elements. On the other hand, the GMC should not only impose heavy penalties on shopkeepers who encroach upon footpaths and pavements but should also seize all goods and wares which are kept in public spaces.