Second phase of eviction to start after Pujas

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 22: The district administration has deferred the ongoing in English Bazaar eviction drive and has announced that the civic body with the help of administration would launch an eviction drive again after the Durga Puja.

“Keeping in mind people's sentiment on the issue of small traders’ livelihood on the eve of Puja and Id, we have stopped evicting traders from English Bazaar town. But, after the Puja, the encroachments on pavements of main roads in this town would be cleared,” said Mr CR Das, the Malda DM.

On July 9, the district administration had launched the eviction drive earlier in and around NH-34, from Rathbari to Sukanta More. But, the second phase of the eviction drive that was to clear the stretch from Rathbari to an underpass near district hospital was yet to kick off.

A few days ago, the district magistrate took an initiative to evict some hawkers from the footpath off the old circuit house and the district magistrate bungalow.

Though that particular stretch of footpaths was cleared, administration did not evict other hawkers who set their stalls close to the marketplaces on humanitarian ground.

Hundreds of small scale traders have been selling various items including garments on the eve of Puja and Id and every days thousands of people are coming in English Bazaar town from block areas for shopping.

It may be noted that the administration has fenced the foothpath of NH-34 and have put up ‘mobile dividers’ for other roads of the town.

After a meeting with the district magistrate, the English Bazaar civic body chief, Mr Narendranath Tiwari said: “We have planned revamp traffic system by clearing all encroachments after Puja with the help of police in English Bazaar town”.