The vendors had earlier been removed from Sarojini Market, following directions from the Supreme Court, which had set-up a committee to identify the squatters and get the areas vacated.

Residents alleged that the vendors had approached the local MLA and he had used his clout to rehabilitate them in what is otherwise a residential locality. ``They just settled in a service lane in our locality and refused to move. This has resulted in undue hardships for us, because of the constant stink and garbage. Late in the evenings, the whole area used to be taken up by cattle. When we spoke to them they said that the MLA had got them settled there and we should not complain,'' said a resident of the area.

Denying his hand in the resettlement of the vegetable vendors in Naoroji Nagar, MLA Ram Bhaj, said: ``They had done this on their own and today they have been removed from that area also. Initially we had protested but when the NDMC officials showed us the orders of the Supreme Court, we realised that they were just doing their duty.''

He, however, added: ``Of course we are concerned about them as well as the residents. Both will face problems by the market being removed from here. I went to the NDMC today and we will discuss the matter in the next meeting scheduled for April 28. In the earlier meeting a resolution was passed unanimously that specific areas should be earmarked for setting up vegetable markets in NDMC area and a committee has already been set-up to identify these locations.''

Refusing to comment on the issue, Enforcement Director S.S. Rao, said that all the vegetable vendors had been removed from the NDMC area. ``I went there this morning and all those squatters have been removed,'' he said.