Hemal Ashar hemal@ mid- day. com IT was business unusual for a gathering of shop owners, members of the Colaba Merchantsu2019 Association ( CMA), at Colabau2019s Radio Club early Monday evening. A meeting was held to discuss hawkers on Causeway, and how the new hawking policy would affect store owners and locals.
Hawk eye The big question though, Narvekar acknowledged was hawking. He said, u201c There is a constant battle between two sets of people, ( hawkers vs shop owners and locals) though both are dependent on each other. Today, licenses have been given to 67 original hawkers. We can do our best and contain those who do not have licenses. There are 67 hawkersu2019 boxes ( they store their wares) on Causeway.
While every suggestion was not practical, it was attest to the huge struggle shop owners have faced with hawkers obstructing the view of their establishment fronts, through so many years. Narvekar said, u201c We understand the agony of shopkeepers but one has to agree that there has been a big leap in mitigating that since the past 10 days.u201d He added, u201c Those ( hawkers) who have licenses cannot be removed as of now, they will be shifted maybe in a month or two to a designated hawking zone.u201d Violence looms A resident said that hawkers who have been removed, u201c have been putting their boxes into the lanes of Colaba, clogging the narrow footpaths. We have been threatened with violence if we dare protest.u201d Narvekar promised that on Tuesday morning a BMC van would pick up all the boxes. Narvekar will facilitate a meeting on Saturday to meet u2018 Au2019 ward officials for a final solution to the boxes of displaced hawkers that are finding their way into different lanes. MLA Rahul Narvekar assured residents of support.
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