Udupi: Petty Shopkeepers up in arms against notices served by Padubidri Panchayat

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 5 Jun 2013: At the backdrop of Padubidri gram panchayat issued notices to street vendors who are disposing the leftover foods besides the road that leads to market, the street vendors severely opposed the move against them.

‘The notices have been issued to street vendors and petty shop keepers as per the decision taken during the general body meeting of village council.  The traffic is being affected when the devotees in large numbers arrive at Brahmastana temple, Padubidri from January to May.  The vegetable and fish stalls are also located nearby.  The street vendors including petty shopkeepers are disposing their waste on the streets.  The notices were issued on the basis of complaint lodged by a certain local Ramakrishna,’ said Padubidri gram panchayat president Vijay Amin.

 

A local petty shopkeeper in anguish said that he has been managing his business at the same location without causing any hindrance since the past 40 years.  The notices were issued by gram panchayat owing to the pressures from vested interests. If the authorities make alternative arrangements they are ready to be relocated.

The local social activist Lokesh Kanchinadka said that the petty shopkeepers are running their businesses since several years and sustaining their families.  The notices that are issued by gram panchayat to vacate the businesses are unjustified.  The panchayat administration had to take earnest interest in evicting the shopkeepers who have built buildings in encroached government-land, said Lokesh.  He also said that a public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the court in this regard.