The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Sunday issued a notification that contained an email address where residents can send their observations about the roads that have been included in the list of no-vending zones.
The list will be published on the website of the KMC on Monday, said a senior official of the civic body. Kolkatans will have a month to send objections or suggestions.
Hawkers will not be allowed on the pavements along the roads that will be declared as no-vending zones.
The notification issued by the commissioner of the KMC on Sunday asked Kolkatans to send their suggestions or objections to addl_secy@kmcgov.in.
Those unable to send an email can write to the KMC. The letter should be addressed to the commissioner or the municipal secretary of the KMC, said a senior official.
The notification mentions that 1,892 streets in the city have been declared as no-vending zones. The list has been finalised by Kolkata’s town vending committee.
The committee, formed under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, a central law, is the sole authority to regulate street vending. It has among its members KMC officials, hawker leaders and police officers.
“The Town Vending Committee (TVC), Kolkata has recommended for inviting suggestions, recommendation or objection if any from the citizens of Kolkata or others whose interests may affect or will likely to be affected regarding finalisation of vending and no vending zones,” the notification issued on Sunday read.
“1892 streets under the jurisdiction of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) are proposed as No-Vending Zones”.
“The feedback should be sent...within one month from the date of notification,” it read.
Calcutta High Court had asked the KMC to identify the vending and no-vending zones in the city.
The Telegraph reported on December 6 that the KMC had identified over 1,800 roads as no-vending zones. The affidavit submitted in the court did not contain the names of the roads.
“We will only publish a list of no-vending zones. All other roads that have pavements that are at least 5ft wide will come under the category of vending zones,” said a senior official.
The 2014 act defines a “vending zone” as an area or a place or a location “for the specific use by street vendors for street vending”.
KMC officials said that without a definitive list of no-vending zones, no action can be taken against hawkers who have set up stalls on pavements that had no hawkers previously.
The town vending committee has the power to suspend or cancel the certificate of vending issued to a hawker for violation of rules or impose penalties on errant hawkers.