Contrary to the claim by the district administration that an eviction drive along the road to the railway station in the district headquarters town here was smooth, the exercise couldn’t take off on Wednesday following protest by street vendors.
District Collector Sanatan Mallick said, “The eviction is in progress. Today no action with machines was required as the people suo motu left the encroached land. Since tomorrow is a holiday for Diwali, we are putting the eviction drive on hold for
a day.”
He added that the vendors had assured him to shift from the place by Friday.
The eviction was necessitated as the road under the PWD connecting to the railway station and station square are to be widened and made more specious
mainly for the convenience of the passengers.
However on the other hand, reports said the drive was halted as the shopkeepers, three local councilors, besides Odisha Street Vendors and Hawkers’ Association president Jayant Das sat on dharana protesting the eviction.
Sub-Collector Indramani Nayak, Tehsildar Gopinath Kuanar, BDO Debasis Pattnaik, municipality executive officer Subash Jena and executive engineer, R&B, BK lenkatheir, besides police forces were present apprehending law and order
situation.
Vendors’ body chief Das said “We have stay order from the Odisha High Court. Therefore, the administration cannot carry out the eviction forcibly. Besides, we agree to vacate the land suo motu only after fulfillment of a few conditions as we too want the road to be developed.”
He demanded that the district administration should form a town vending committee and a patch of land of R&B near to the station square be given to accommodate all the affected vendors who are about 170 in number.