Hawkers Policy In Pimpri-Chinchwad Soon

PUNE: Around 7,500 hawkers from the Pimpri-Chinchwad township can now hope to get an authorised place to sell their wares and proper rules to govern them. The common citizens too can hope to get relief from the encroachments by hawkers as there will be designated hawker zones, as well as no-hawker zones, particularly on some of the busy main roads.
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation(PCMC) has prepared a comprehensive policy on hawkers. According to civic officials, the policy, after its approval, will be implemented from April. The draft of the policy will be discussed at the municipal corporation’s monthly general body meeting later this month.
A city level hawkers committee has been proposed to implement the policy. In addition, there will be zonal committees as well as some technical committees which will look into all the issues concerning the policy at a micro level. The mayor will be the chairperson of the city hawkers committee, while other members will include elected office-bearers, civic officials as well as representatives of various hawkers organisations. The zonal committees will comprise zonal chairpersons, civic officials, and police officials.
The hawkers policy has been prepared according to the state government’s directives. As per the directives, the PCMC had invited suggestions and objections from citizens but did not receive any response.
Speaking to TOI on Monday, Subhash Machare, social welfare officer, PCMC said, “The PCMC had started preparing the hawkers zone policy two years back. But it had to be revised after the state government issued directives to have a common hawkers policy in the state.”
According to a survey conducted by the PCMC two years ago, there were 7,500 hawkers within the municipal limits. Machare said that a fresh survey will be undertaken to finalise the list of hawkers. As per the proposed policy, the hawker should have a proof that he has been a resident of Pimpri-Chinchwad for ten years. The PCMC will issue identity cards to the hawkers.
The civic body will announce a list of hawker zones and no-hawker zones. Only authorised hawkers will be allowed to operate in the hawker zones. Once the policy is implemented, the corporation will take action against unauthorised hawkers and those operating in no-hawker zones, Machare said.
Speaking to TOI, independent corporator Maruti Bhapkar said, “The PCMC should finalise its hawkers policy at the earliest. The hawkers have to face eviction from the township as there are no designated hawker zones in the municipal limits. Hawker zones should be formed to give relief to the hawkers. The PCMC should take action against the unauthorised hawkers and ensure that new hawkers do not encroach on public land.”
Hawkers policy

• The draft policy will be discussed a the GB meeting later this month
• After approval, the policy will come into effect from April
• Various committees will be formed at the city and zonal levels to implement the policy
• Hawker zones and no-hawker areas will be notified
• Penal action will be taken against unauthorised hawkers and those operating in no-hawker zones