Encroachment of the Paltan Bazaar and other market areas by roadside vendors continues to create problem taking its toll on smooth flow of traffic. With Holi just a few days away, the number of such vendors is increasing and though police keep removing these encroachments from Paltan Bazaar time to time, the situation has not improved.
The local police had recently removed encroachment by traders on the footpaths in Paltan Bazaar. However, the footpaths were soon taken over by another bunch of encroachers soon after being cleared. This apart, vendors using carts are also impede traffic here and in other market areas.
A fruit vendor at Tehsil Chowk, Sunil, said that he was the sole earning member of this family. “I don’t have a vendor’s license, but it makes little difference because the police ask even the licensed vendors to move,” he said. SP, City, NS Bhullar said, the police penalise encroaching traders between Rs 250 and Rs 500 but their removal is temporary as more policemen cannot be deployed at present to ensure that the encroachers do not return.
Policeman Mukul Sharma said that the police works as per the law. This is mainly the responsibility of the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun but MCD officials do not check this problem which the police is tackling. Shoppers like Shristi Rana, who was shopping in Paltan Bazaar state that encroachment increases the chances of accidents, she said.