MUMBAI, January 2: Over 1.03 lakh hawkers in Mumbai have planned a major offensive against the state government and BMC to protest against a sudden hike in the daily administrative and refuse removal charges.The hawkers have also declared a war against zunka bhakar stall owners in the city. They maintain that owners of these stalls run their businesses in trendy joints at prime spots but have to pay a pittance as monthly rent to BMC, while stiff daily charges are recovered from hawkers.
The hike also came in for attack from corporators at BMC's standing committee meeting, where, cutting across party lines, they said that instead of burdening hawkers with steep daily charges, BMC should speed up implementation of hawking zones. A point of order on the issue was raised by Congress corporator Vijaya Dhulla.
As per new charges introduced from January 1, BMC will recover Rs 7 daily from hawkers who sell perishable items like fruits and vegetables. Earlier, daily charges were Re 1 from women and Rs 2 from
men hawkers. The daily charges are now Rs 7 to Rs 10 for hawkers selling perishable items like fruits and vegetables and occupying an area of 9 sq feet. For hawkers selling non-perishable items and occupying the same area, the charges have been increased up to Rs 15.
For hawkers selling eatables, the charge has been increased from Rs 15 to Rs 30, and for those selling eatables on handcarts, it has been increased from Rs 30 to Rs 75 up to 7 pm. After 7 pm, these hawkers will have to pay additional night charges of Rs 100.
Addressing a press conference here today, President of the Bombay Hawkers' Union, Sharad Rao, informed that hawkers will take out a massive morcha from Azad Maidan to Mantralaya on January 6 and demonstrate outside BMC headquarters throughout the day to demand withdrawal of the hike.
"All hawkers' organisations in the city have united under the Hawkers Action Committee and decided to bring their fight to the streets. The hike is unjustified and it will be opposed tooth and nail
by all hawkers," Rao said.
He added they will also demand withdrawal of additional powers given to the municipal commissioner, which allow BMC to levy a penalty up to Rs 10,000 on hawkers.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
