The Opposition at the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) has alleged that hawkers who had been evicted from areas in Bidhan Market in Siliguri a few months ago, were back on the streets there.

Trinamul Congress councilors also said that the Left Front-led civic body had not been doing good work, despite the opposition bringing the problems of SIliguri in the limelight.

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On 10 February, Trinamul councilors of Wards 11 and 12, Nantu Pal and his wife Manjushree Pal, under the initiative of the Number-2 Borough Chairman and youths, had launched a special drive against illegal encroachment on footpath stalls and illegal parking along Bidhan Road.

The drive initiated by the TMC had led the Bidhan Market Traders’ Association to lead a deputation to SMC Mayor Asok Bhattacharya. The traders claimed that the crackdown came without prior notice.

A leader of the Opposition at the SMC, Ranjan Sarkar, on the other hand, maintained that the drive was meant to remind the Left Front-run civic body of its responsibilities.

“We had evicted the illegal hawkers and they are back on the streets doing brisk business. Our motive was to remind the SMC of its responsibilities, but the board did not do anything and is still sitting idle. The board is shrugging off its responsibilities,” Mr Sarkar alleged.

“The civic board has been ignoring the traffic problems in the town for the past three years, and the board is enjoying its power without doing anything. The board is least concerned about the traffic problems in SMC areas. No fruitful steps have been taken so far by the civic body,” Mr Sarkar further claimed.

However, Deputy Mayor Ram Bhajan Mahato said that in spite of the state government not releasing financial assistance to the SMC, the civic body had been working for the development of the town.

“Moreover, the civic body has nothing much to do with traffic congestions, and it is the concern of the Siliguri Metropolitan Police (SMP) and the state government. For an effective drive, we need the help of the police, but we have written many letters to the police department, but in vain. However, we will launch a drive against illegal parking and encroachment soon,” said Mr Mahato.

However, Commissioner of the Siliguri Metropolitan Police, Sunil Kumar Choudhary, said it is the “agencies” concerned that have to look into all these issues. “I have no comments to make on this,” he said.