Mangaluru: Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) commissioner Rahul Ratnam Pandey, who inspected the designated street-vending zones and vending areas near the Town Hall on Thursday, told street vendors that the urban localbody would consider allowing Sunday Bazaar after holding a discussion, subject to certain conditions.Functionaries of the Dakshina Kannada District Street Vendors’ Association (affiliated with CITU) and Beedibadi Vyaparastara Shreyobhivriddhi Sangha urged the commissioner to allow 40 street vendors, who have been conducting business on Sundays near the Town Hall, to continue their business.In fact, MCC officials had carried out eviction drives in the past few weeks against the Sunday Bazaar and Mangaluru South police has registered a case against street vendors too. The commissioner said the city corporation will consider allowing street vending near the Town Hall after holding a meeting with functionaries of the associations and officials next week. He also instructed street vendors not to conduct business at the Town Hall premises on the upcoming Sunday.“We need to declare a vending zone to allow street vending, and the city corporation has a Town Vending Committee for this purpose. I will look into the matter and see what can be done based on my discretionary powers. I will ensure that vendors will be given opportunity for their livelihood. Meanwhile, they should abide by rules, and not question MCC officials on duty. If there is any complaint, you may approach the commissioner,” Pandey said. He said a decision will be taken based on the carrying capacity of the road and footpath. Associations should finalise the list of vendors to be allowed to continue their business near the Town Hall. He also directed street vendors to attend the meeting as a united body. Association honorary president BK Imthiyaz and sangha president Mahammad Musthafa were present.
