Traders seek action against street vendors, encroachments in Dharwad

The traders' association in Dharwad has called for action against street vendors and encroachments on public spaces, citing the impact on local businesses and pedestrian safety. At a press conference on October 28, representative Deepak Rege stated that street vending had proliferated along Subhash Road, near Lakshmi Narayan temple, and close to Basel Mission School.

Rege alleged that the presence of street vendors hindered customer movement and adversely affected local shopkeepers and hotel owners who pay rent, taxes, and licence fees. He also expressed concern over the encroachments which have rendered roads unsafe for pedestrians, schoolchildren, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.

Rege requested food safety officials to inspect the food sold by street vendors for potential contamination and take necessary action based on the results. He pointed out that temporary vending arrangements for nine days during the Lakshmi Narayan temple fair had persisted for nearly a month. Rege further claimed that many vendors had traveled from outside Dharwad and urged the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation to specify the duration, locations, and conditions of the permissions granted to them.

The association did not oppose street vendors earning a livelihood but demanded designated vending zones and appropriate rehabilitation for them, while emphasizing that their activities should not impede established traders or other individuals in the area.