Forced ministerial intervention in shop allotment list will be protested: Saryu

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, April 4: A delegation of displaced shopkeepers of Mango Chowk met MLA Saryu Roy and sought panacea to their livelihood after their eviction from near the Mango Chowk on charges of land encroachment. The delegation accused Mango Municipal Corporation (MMC) authorities were preparing a list of persons who constituted the Minister’s favourites. Jamshedpur East legislator, Saryu Roy, after listening to the Mango Chowk shopke3epers’ fears and accusations assured them that he personally would pick up cudgels on their behalf. “Arbitration will not be tolerated on shop allotment through pressure tactics. If the administration violates the provisions of Street Vendors’ Act of 2014, the matter will be taken to Court and the state government. He told that arbitrariness is being done in allotment of shops by Mango Municipal Corporation, Mango Municipal Corporation is preparing the list of the minister’s favourites. MLA Saryu Roy assured them that he would fight for them.

They will not allow the minister’s arbitrariness in shop allotment under any circumstances. Roy said that if the administration violates the provisions of the Street Vendors Act, 2014, then the matter will go to the government and the court.”

Roy further observed that thwe administration had violated the terms of the Act of 2014 when the shopkeepers were evicted and thewir establishments pulled down. “As such allotment of shops would not be allowed,” He spoke to the MMC Executive Officer and advised him to stay away from wrong motives and decisions by not bending to pressure.

Saryu Roy went on to state, “It would be wrong to settle the shopkeepers in Mannan Gali because it has yet not been ascertained if the land belongs to the government or any other agency or department or if the land is MMC property.” 

Other issues taken cognizance to by Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy were construction of drinking water facilities, toilets and vehicle parking spots that had to be earmarked prior to allocating stalls to evicted shopkeepers and these provisions, according to Roy, were nonstarters in Mannam Gali.  He said, “Many organized markets can be set up in different areas in Mango. I will hold discussions with the Urban Development Department on this issue.”

MLA Saryu Roy suggested to the MMC Executive Officer to convene a meeting of the Vendors’ Committee as per the Street Vendors Act, 2014, so that shops could be duly allotted to appropriate persons. Saryu Roy semanded, “The shops should be allotted on priority basis who were ejected from the Mango Main Road divider. They should have vendor certificate and card issued by MMC to claim top priority.”

He reiterated, “Forcing names into the allotment list of shopkeepers will not be taken for granted. If such attempts are made, the matter will go to the government and the judiciary.  Irregularity of the minister and his henchmen in the allotment of shops will not work. If this does not happen, the matter will be taken up with the government and the judiciary.”

The MLA informed that the delegation of Shopkeepers Association was on the lookout for spots for construction of shops in Mango.

The places suggested by the shopkeepers delegation included Land of Agriculture Market Committee in Mango Market, Land of Drinking Water Sanitation Department in Kunwar Basti, Subarnarekha project land in Ulidih, Land of Forest Department, part of the land identified for the Subarnarekha Project and bus stop on NH, Government land in Sankosai,  Land in Baliguma and  Near MGM Medical College. (w/gsd)