GHMC drive demolishes street hawkers' business

CHARMINAR: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation's demolition drive in several parts of the

Old City

have left hawkers in the lurch after demonetisation, prompting them to question the civic body's alleged inaction against illegal parking in front of eateries.

Many hawkers alleged that the traffic police and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials were shying off from taking action against the operators of illegal parking lots.

“Already, everyone's business has been hit hard by the demonetisation move. Now, the GHMC's demolition drive has drilled one more nail into the coffin. The Government of Telangana had promised jobs and said it would focus on public welfare. But terming us encroachers, GHMC and the traffic police have rendered us jobless,“ said Mir Fayaz Ali, a trader along the Khil wat Road. Street vendors Jani Miyan and

Mohd Abdul Manan

alleged that owners of eateries were continuing with flouting the norms, but no action had been taken against them.

“I want the state government to either give us jobs or ensure an alternative source of income. If the government, traffic police or GHMC are really concerned about getting rid of encroachers, they should take action against the high-rise building owners.The demolition drive of GMHC is actually against the poor hawkers,“ said M D Ghouse, a street vendor at Laad Bazaar.

Hawkers of the Old City fear if the government allows GHMC to carry out the demolition drive, they may lose their livelihood. Most of the hawkers in their early 20s stressed their families were dependent on them and they depended on daily wages.

“I have four children and our life hinges on my small business. If I am driven out from the streets, where will we go? Show us any alternative place for doing business. I can't afford to pay rent for a shop,“ said Md Abdul Manan, a street vendor at

Gulzar House

.

Hawkers claimed that many footpaths across the city had been turned into urinal spots. “The Koti footpath once had many book stalls. Terming their owners encroachers, the book stalls were removed and urinals were built,“ another hawker added.

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