Encroachment in the market areas of Dwarka has become a hot discussion topic these days. Resident groups, RWAs and social organisations are all raising the subject on their various WhatsApp groups in a bid to get the attention of civic bodies and public representatives.
Anil Kumar Parashar, a resident of Sri Agrasen Apartments in Sector 7, has been writing about the issue regularly on social media. Speaking to City Spidey, he said, “I had drawn the attention of the authorities towards a chaat vendor whose stall had been obstructing traffic and blocking a pavement in Sector 7. At our insistence, the municipal authorities forced him to evacuate his business site. However, after a few days he was back at the same spot. Sector 10 markets are also filled with encroachments. Even pictures of these encroachments have been posted to the authorities, but no action has been taken.”
Residents are alleging that there is a lack of political will preventing authorities from taking a tough stand on encroachments. “Every political party blames the other. The situation is worsening every day and merits serious attention,” said Parashar. Dwarka news
The situation is not different in the market areas of sectors 4, 10 and 12.
People are alleging that all encroachments are happening in the knowledge of civic authorities and representatives of political parties. SN Singh, a resident of Sector 4, said, “The entire corridor of the Sector 4 market has been captured by vendors. These vendors, who have set up their wares in front of shops, are either bribing the shops or the administration or soliciting the support of the powerful people in the area.”
Visitors to the markets are tired of negotiating their way through these encroached corridors. They are demanding a proper policy that can govern these shops.
Nidhi Gupta, a resident of Sector 10, said, “Encroachment in the markets is mainly being done by shopowners who put big standees for advertising, or even refrigeration units. A shop of export items and another of worship accessories and idols are a case in point in Sector 10. The encroachment in front of the latter expands during festivals.”
The encroachments in the Sector 6 market were removed earlier, following High Court orders. Residents of the sub-city are hence questioning why this order has not been enforced in other markets as well.
