Handcarts barred in Shahganj Chaman area; 25 civic staff deployed

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The municipal corporation deployed 15 ex-servicemen, a JCB and 10 personnel from the anti-encroachment section in the Shahaganj Chaman area from Friday morning. As a result, not a single handcarter was seen throughout the day. The administration has ordered that if any handcart is spotted in the Chaman vicinity, it will be seized along with the goods.

On Wednesday evening, a young man and a pregnant woman were brutally assaulted in the Chaman area. Following the incident, the civic body’s anti-encroachment squad arrived in the locality on Thursday morning to act against handcarts. On seeing the squad, handcart vendors fled. Several shopkeepers had encroached beyond their shutters; more than 30 small and large encroachments were removed. However, once the civic team left, vendors resumed business in the area.

At 3.28 pm, the newspaper highlighted how handcarts had reappeared in Chaman. Taking note of the report, two separate municipal teams reached Shahganj at 9 am on Friday. One team comprised 15 ex-servicemen who continuously patrolled the area. The other was from the anti-encroachment section, consisting of 10 staff members and a JCB. CSMC coordinating officer Santosh Wahule said the teams had been instructed to take immediate action if any encroaching handcarts were found.

More than 150 families affected

More than 150 handcarts used to operate daily in the Shahganj Chaman area. Many vendors have been earning their livelihood through fruit sales for years. During the month of Ramzan, fruit sales typically rise, and business has been brisk over the past eight days. However, a single incident of assault has now created a serious livelihood crisis for them.

Vendors approach Leader of Opposition

Some fruit vendors from Shahganj met the leader of opposition Abdul Sameer at the municipal corporation on Friday morning. Sameer heard their grievances but was unable to provide any immediate relief.