Bhubaneswar: Street vendors demonstrated Thursday against “eviction” by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) as part of the beautification drive for the upcoming Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebration in the city.
Thousands of street vendors protested outside the BMC North Zone office at NALCO Square, blocking the main road that connects Jaydev Vihar to Nandankanan Zoo.
They alleged that the BMC and Bhubaneswar Development Authority were evicting vendors on 12 different roads without any proper rehabilitation.
Odisha Roadside Vendors’ Association president Pratap Kumar Sahu said that without any prior notice or rehabilitation, the authorities started evicting them in the name of beautification.
The street vendors faced a similar situation during the Men’s Hockey World Cup as well, he alleged.
“We demand immediate stoppage of the eviction drive and declaration of these areas as vending zones. New shops should be allotted to the street vendors,” Sahu said.
Also Read: Odisha govt mulls revival of students’ union elections from next academic year
If the government does not accept the demands, the protest would be intensified and all three zonal offices of BMC would be gheraoed, he said.
The demonstration outside the BMC office was withdrawn after officers intervened.
A BMC official said, “We are not evicting any street vendors. We want to relocate them in view of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas function. We will provide water and electricity to their shops. However, they are reluctant to relocate.”
The 18th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is scheduled to be held at Bhubaneswar’s Janata Maidan from January 8 to 10.
PTI
