Entry of illegal street traders to be restricted in Kozhikode city soon

Following stringent opposition from licensed traders, the entry of illegal street traders will be restricted soon in Kozhikode city with the support of the police and local administrators. The action comes in the wake of mushrooming of unlicensed wayside ventures, including eateries, mobile garment units and pushcart businesses.

Though merchant organisations have been up in arms against the illegal street trade, the lack of special vending zones for street traders has been one of the major hindrances to imposing restrictions. The authorities plan to evict illegal traders from major locations of the city where the licensed traders operate.

“On S.M. Street, there are hundreds of street traders. When the approved traders are exposed to frequent safety inspections and audits, these unlicensed street traders are least affected by such checks,” said P. Ashraf, a stationery shop owner on S.M. Street. He pointed out that all major trade zones had been illegally occupied by such unauthorised traders who evaded tax payments.

Proliferation

Pushcart traders encroaching upon wayside space and footpaths have been common in different parts of the city. Many a time, the attempts of the police to evict such traders have been collectively resisted by them raising humanitarian considerations. Following the failed enforcement drives, the number of such ventures witnessed an increase in the Kallayi, Palayam, Mavoor road, Nadakkavu, Eranhipalam and West Hill areas.

"Once the eviction of a pushcart trader from Nadakkavu was shot in mobile phones by some of his fellow traders and circulated online to mobilise public opinion against the police. Legal actions are being misinterpreted by some segments to facilitate illegal street vending,” said a retired police officer who was part of the eviction squad. He said “influential persons” were behind the organised street trade and they could mobilise trade union workers against the local administrators and the police.

Corporation sources said that street vending licences had been granted to only 2,812 traders in Kozhikode city and an intensified checking would be carried out soon to identify the unlicensed ones. Officials with the Health wing would coordinate further action following complaints raised by some councillors on objections raised by the authorised merchants, they said.