The State authorities appear to have failed in preventing encroachment and the blatant violation of various regulations in the State capital in the name of Deepawali festivities. The police, district administration and Municipal Corporation of Dehradun have turned a blind eye to encroachments by petty trade rs in commercial areas and sale of fireworks in prohibited areas.
The footpaths and roadsides in the busy Paltan Bazaar area have been encroached upon by traders-mostly from towns of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. Though the municipal authorities had earlier talked of taking action against such encroachment, this has not happened as the MCD on its own is incapable of preventing or removing encroachments in the face of opposition from the business fraternity and political class, especially the politicians with business interests.
It is pertinent to mention here that commercial encroachments peak during Deepawali in the market areas of the State capital. In the Paltan Bazaar area, petty traders- many of them from different towns of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh- have set up their wares for sale on the footpaths and roadsides outside shops. According to sources, such spots on the roadsides and footpath are ‘rented’ out to petty traders wanting to sell their wares in view of the Deepawali festivities. Such petty traders also have to pay the police to ply their trade.
The MCD had in the past talked of preventing such encroachment in the market areas but no such action has been taken. Officials point out that the corporation alone cannot act against encroachments without effective support from the police and district authorities.
Political interference in anti-encroachment drives against either commercial or residential encroachments is another major factor that deters the MCD from acting effectively against this problem. As in past years, this year too, encroachments and other violations during Deepawali are causing congestion especially in the commercial areas of the State capital while the authorities concerned make tall claims.