Nursery encroaching the sidewalk near Hadas High School leaving little space for pedestrians. (Pic by Anil Futane)

 

 

 

The sidewalk adjoining Hadas High School, North Ambazari Road has been afflicted by encroachment for a long time. The vendors who sell plants and the nomadic tribes have made that sidewalk their home. ‘The Hitavada’ asked Prakash Varade, Assistant Commissioner, Nagpur Municipal Commissioner (NMC) about the ongoing problems. He replied, “The Enforcement Squad is active all the time. They have been doing their job and will keep doing it again, but the vendors and the nomadic tribes keep coming back even after multiple actions.”

 

The sidewalk is a place for people to walk on but the vendors make it a place for selling things and that pushes pedestrians onto the carriageway which defeats the purpose of the sidewalk. Harish Raut, Assistant Commissioner, NMC, also spoke with ‘The Hitavada’ about this issue.

 

“The speed by which the work should be happening is not up to the mark,” he said. Speaking about the nomadic tribes issue, he said, “Rehabilitation teams should be picking up the nomadic people and taking them to the rehabilitation centres but that work also seems negligent. The problem keeps raising its head as the nomadic people keep coming back even after repeated actions.” The sidewalks have been made for the citizens to spend their time in peace, but if these vendors and squatters keep occupying them regardless of the continuous actions, who should the citizens turn to and when will the sidewalk regain its glory, remain to be seen.