Suraj Kumar, sub-divisional officer, Dhalbhum, made a surprise inspection at Sakchi market this morning. Kumar went to Sakchi as a section of footpath vendors had started setting up their makeshift shops in the alleys of the marketplace, during the Makar Sankranti shopping.
Along with policemen, the SDO started inspecting the entire Sakchi market and ensured that there was no encroachment by the push-cart vendors and footpath vendors on the roads inside the marketplace.
“We have been receiving several complaints that after the erstwhile SDO, Alok Kumar was transferred from here, the marketplace in Sakchi had begun to returning to its previous condition. But we have to keep it free from encroachment at any cost. Therefore, we are inspecting the market and also warning the foot-vendors not to try to do business on the footpath once again,” said Kumar.
The SDO said the administration will take stern action if any of the foot-path vendors is found doing business on the roads inside the market. He also instructed the Sakchi police to remain vigilant at the market against any encroachment.
Significantly, as the SDO and the police had entered into the Sakchi market, about two dozens of vendors had wrapped up their goods and disappeared from the scene abruptly.
He said that they have been receiving complains that the vendors had have restarted selling their products on footpaths while shopkeepers and retail establishments put up extensions on drains and lanes at commercial hubs even after eviction drive by administration at Sakchi and Bistupur market the shopkeepers are flouting the guidelines.
The SDO further said that they would be conducting weekly monitoring of the commercial hubs along with JNAC officials and local police officials to stop recurrence of encroachment.
Taking lesson from the past incidents the district administration is likely to constitute a team of the administrative and police officials who will make surprise visit to the market to get hold of the shops.
Incidentally, Sakchi market was cleared of encroachment after several days of efforts on the part of district administration in August while Bistupur market was cleared in September.
With city roads squeezing day by day due to encroachments, the district administration launched launch anti-encroachment drive. “We want to streamline the traffic movement in the city. We are taking initiatives to vacate the illegal constructions so that the vehicles can move easily,” said an officer of Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee.