Cops crack down on Manglahat encroachment

Howrah: Residents' long-standing demand to clear pavements and roads around Howrah Maidan was acted upon as cops enforced a ban on illegal encroachment on key stretches on Tuesday. The state govt has directed that Manglahat traders would no longer be allowed to illegally occupy and rent dala on key stretches.On Monday evening, Howrah City Police informed leaders of Manglahat traders and made loudspeaker announcements that stalls would not be permitted on major roads and pavements around Howrah Maidan from Tuesday, and that goods could not be unloaded or stored from Manglahat buildings during busy hours. Despite the ban, some vendors set up clothing stalls on Tuesday morning. Police removed them. Though there was some resistance initially, the market gradually dispersed and traders vacated the area later in the day.Raj Kumar Saha, general secretary of the Howrah Manglahat Traders Association, said about 30,000 traders depend on dala-based business and come from multiple districts. He said the association would resist unless authorities provide an alternative arrangement.