Field day for hawkers, Palika shop-owners sulk

Monday , Mar 15, 2010

The road opposite the Palika underground parking in front of Palika Bazaar Gate number 1 is usually choking, with hundreds of hawkers and buyers jostling for bargains, blocking pedestrian movement. The unauthorised hawkers, according to the shopkeepers of Palika Bazaar, have led to declining sales inside the market, as both sell near-identical goods— shirts, jeans, T-shirts and accessories.

According to documents obtained by Newsline, among the nearly 75 hawkers operating in the area, only 48 have licences from the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to sell goods on the street. "While this has meant dipping sales for us, it also poses a

security threat to the area as most of the sellers have not been verified by the NDMC," a shopkeeper of Palika Bazaar said.

The shopkeepers, he said, have written to the civic body several times to remove the unlicensed hawkers but nothing has been done so far.

Also, according to NDMC rules, hawkers are allowed to ply their trade only from sunrise to sunset. If any hawker is found hawking after that, his goods are liable to be seized.

These hawkers, however, operate from afternoon till late in the night. According to an NDMC official, civic officials conduct surprise visits to the area and seize goods from unlicensed hawkers, but they keep coming back.

Besides the unauthorised hawkers outside the underground parking, there are also numerous others doing business outside the Palika Bazaar.

The hawkers began functioning in the area in 2000 when the NDMC relocated them from different places in Lutyens' Delhi to the present location. Since then, the numbers have been growing and their sales have been picking up since they sell goods at prices lower than Palika Bazaar.

"The hawkers don't have to pay sales tax and income tax, so they can afford to do so," a shopkeeper said.

Original news source http://www.indianexpress.com/news/field-day-for-hawkers-palika-shopowners-sulk/590656/0