MCC bouncers to deal with hawkers

MCC bouncers to deal with hawkers

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, April 14: Hawkers across the city selling their wares on footpaths and roads will literally see red early next week. Mangalore City Corporation, in what its senior officials describe as a permanent move to deal with unauthorized hawking especially in Central Market area, have finalized the idea of introducing a Red van with 10-able bodied men on board to deal with errant hawkers.

The idea of having an in-house team to deal with illegal hawking came up after officials had to come back empty handed on several occasions each time they planned raids. "By the time we mobilised men and material and descended on areas where illegal hawking was taking place, news reached the hawkers and the whole area was spotlessly clean," rued Meghana R, revenue officer. This is where the idea of Red Van came up, she noted.

The Red Van, MCC commissioner K N Vijayprakash said that it would be on the job at all times and ensure that hawkers do not come back to the area after each raid. The multiple raids and other measures carried out by the civic body have really not deterred the hawkers, he said. Through this new arrangement, the civic body would like to send out a clear message that hawking in unauthorized zones is a strict no-no, he said.

The operation of red van has been outsourced and the staff in the van would sport a uniform with MCC logo. Modalities of setting up the van was conceptualised and finalised after a couple of ideation meetings, Meghana said, adding the van would have jurisdiction over the city. Officials familiar with the development said that revenue officials had to hasten the programme to introduce the van after the commissioner put his foot down. TOI