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by Alfie -Team Mangalorean
Mangaluru: What went up illegally, came down legally – as officials of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) under the leadership of Raju Mogaveera -MCC Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Manjayya Shetty – MCC Health Officer and other senior MCC Officials, along with a battalion of State Reserve Police and City Police demolished all illegal hoardings and sign boards that were erected on MCC property. A brand new sign post of ‘Kairali Restaurant’ near Bendore-well which was erected on the footpath was knocked by the MCC officials using a earth-mover. The grand opening of this restaurant is scheduled for today- even the sign board of Taj restaurant located near Indiana Hospital was also removed.
In a massive drive against encroachments, for the second day in a row, MCC demolished illegal constructions, illegal petty shops near Bendore-well, Kankanady -Pumpwell, and couple of shops near Valencia. This time the MCC has been quite harsh in their eviction drive-earlier they used to pick these illegal shops and load them on to the trucks as they are, but this time all these illegal shops were crushed to pieces using earth-movers and then loaded on to the truck – so that the owners won’t come back with their shops and run business again. Illegal shops selling tender coconuts, snacks, pan-beeda7cigarettes, sugar cane juice/fruit juices, Chinese food etc were all crushed. With the word being spread due to the eviction of shops on Wednesday, many owners of these petty shops had moved their shops- Kankanady Market area and the surroundings near Fr Muller Hospital, once a haven for all these petty shops wore a deserted look, since shop owners had vacated their spots.
Brand New ‘ Kairali Restaurant’ sign Board knocked down by MCC
Mallikamma – a Petty Shop Owner in tears
The main complaint from all these petty shop owners is that the MCC should have given them prior notice about the eviction, and doing a surprise raid is inhuman. In response to this, Raju Mogaveera speaking to Mangalorean.com said, ” These kind of silly excuses are always there when we decide to evict these illegal shops. People should have common sense not to set up shops on foot-paths or other places which lead to inconveniences to the public and motorists. We given requested and also given orders to these petty shop owners many a times, but they don’t budge to our plea. After identifying the encroaches and their extent of encroachments, the civic body issued notices several times, but it did not evoke any response. Hence we swung into action and demolished those illegal structures by surprise and by force. We have done nothing wrong, it was these people who made us to take action” .
Also speaking to Mangalorean.com, Sub Inspector Mahaveer Nayak of Kadri Police station, Sub Inspector Nagaraj from Bajpe Police station, and ASI Rosamma from Bunder Police station said, ” It’s sad to note that these petty shop owners have to face such kind of eviction, which hurts their living. But on the other hand, these illegal shops are also a nuisance to the public and traffic. Traffic snarls has become common on the stretch during peak hours in mornings and evenings due to large-scale encroachments on the road. Lot of illegal activities are also taking place through these shops like selling narcotics to youth. The only way the authorities could help these people is to provide them a suitable place somewhere that won’t affect the public or motorists”.
Once a Haven for illegal shops near Fr. Muller Hospital wore a deserted look
Finder keeps it! MCC worker takes home a bag full of “Siddu”
Mallikamma, a petty shop owner near Indiana Hospital with tears in her eyes speaking to Mangalorean.com said, ” I can’t believe these ruthless people could do something like this to me. I was moving my shop, but while doing so my shop was forcibly crushed by the earth-mover. I have been doing small business to support my family for the last four years, and nothing harmful like this had happened. MCC ruined my life, I have no other income, and I don’t know what I should do next. I am devastated and very much angry with the MCC officials for their brutal action”. In the meantime, showing their act of ignorance there were many labourers of MCC packing up stuff from these demolished shops like Chewing tobacco, chocolates, tender coconuts etc.
In conclusion, like I said in my last report, some citizens may have pity on these petty shops owners saying that it their income/daily bread to support themselves and their families- but we should also know that there are legal shop owners who pay for utilities, taxes, other maintenance bills etc and who also like these illegal shop owners need to make their income to support their families. How would a legal shop owner feel, when a street vendor or a shop set up illegally selling the same products at a lesser cost, thereby hurting his business. If the government or city still has pity on these petty shops owners they should provide them with suitable location where they still continue with their business without hurting the business of legal shop owners nor creating hassles/inconveniences to the pedestrians. But I have a feeling, no matter what with all these evictions now and then, the street vendors/illegal petty shop owners will still return back and start their operations once again. We need a proper system with strict laws-Period!
Also Read Related Article :
Mangaluru: Enough is Enough! MCC evicts dozens of Petty Shops near Town Hall
Good job MCC but at the same time you have to demolish some buildings which are built on the footpaths. Why there is partiality in doing justice with rich and the poor. Law should be equal to the poor and the rich because we all live in India. It is easy to demolish a poor man’s petty shop but why double standard in demolishing buildings which are constructed by paying bribe.