Chandigarh: The Town Vending Committee (TVC) is set to allot vacated street vending sites to registered Non-Essential Service Providers (Non-ESP) vendors through an open draw of lots, with the proposal to be taken up in its 36th meeting scheduled for Monday.As per records, over 1,600 earmarked vending sites across sectors and colonies in the city are currently lying vacant. The municipal corporation (MC) has decided that priority will be given to vendors who are regular in paying fees.Except for Essential Service Providers (ESP) and mobile vendors, all others fall under the Non-ESP category.During scrutiny of payment records, the MC identified a recurring pattern among some vendors during site allocation. “Whenever a public notice is issued announcing a fee payment deadline for participation in the draw of lots, certain vendors deliberately default. By remaining in arrears, they ensure exclusion from the draw and avoid relocation to designated vending zones,” the agenda note states.It adds that such vendors aim to continue operating from their current surveyed sites and, after the draw, often pressure the MC and its enforcement wing to allow unauthorised operations at those locations.To address this, the MC has proposed restricting eligibility for the draw to active vendors whose outstanding dues do not exceed six months. Approval will also be sought to conduct the draw for allocation of the vacant sites.“Completing this allocation is critical to stabilising vending zones. Once a formal site is allotted, it reduces the risk of vendors seeking legal relief to continue unauthorised operations at their original surveyed sites,” the agenda states.The panel will also consider including Non-Essential Street Provision (NESP) vendors who are under a structured repayment plan. “Vendors must be actively clearing dues as per timelines set by the competent authority, and their names will be included in the draw sequentially as major arrears are cleared,” the agenda adds.
