The Kurseong Municipality has said it will take action against shopkeepers, vendors and hawkers who display their wares outside their shops and on sidewalks. The Municipality’s sanitary officer, and councillor incharge of the sanitary department, Ramesh Subba and Shyam Sherpa, respectively, said that the board of the Kurseong Municipality has decided to take action against such shopkeepers and hawkers, keeping in mind the inconveniences faced by the local people of Kurseong municipality area as well as people who visit Kurseong town for their various work.
“The pedestrians and locals have been facing problems while walking at market placesin the town,” Mr Subba said. He added that shopkeepers can carry on with their business without spreading their wares on the small footpaths or passages in the town area. “All of us should be aware of the issues and must think of the others too,” he said.
The duo added that they made announcements to this effect through loudspeakers around the town yesterday and today. “Later, we can conduct raids in the town and see if any person or shopkeeper is found displaying their items on the footpaths.
If we find them doing so, we will take action as per the rules and regulations of the municipality,” Mr Sherpa said. According to him, locals in Kurseong have been facing such a problem since long, “and it is really unfortunate that due to various reasons, no one has come forward officially or boldly at the municipality to crack down on such activities.”
The duo further said that local people have often complained to the municipality about such a thing happening in the town, which has inconvenienced the common people.
Not only the footpaths, but several places belonging to the municipality, highway, and railway have been encroached upon by the people in the Kurseong area, where they have also erected structures.