With MC-allotted stalls, Solan merchants carry on their roadside business

Even though they were given stalls at the Saproon vendor market, street vendors are still operating by the sides of the roadways in different sections of Solan town. This negates the whole point of spending Rs 1.5 crore to establish a specific market in order to move them.

The problem not only exposes the Solan Municipal Corporation’s (MC) careless attitude, but it also demonstrates the city’s lax regulatory oversight of roadside encroachment.

The MC is responsible for overseeing vendors’ activities in accordance with the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. One step in that direction was the establishment of the specialized market. Its goal is to investigate the traffic issues that street sellers generate for commuters.

Taking a harsh stance against the municipal body’s purportedly indolent attitude to reopening the vendor market during the last four months, Solan Deputy Commissioner Manmohan Sharma has ordered the Solan Municipal Corporation to finish the job by April 20.

“The entire purpose of setting up this market has been defeated with the street vendors continuing to set up stalls on the roadside even after the booths have been allotted,” said Sharma.

The DC has formed a team led by the SDM and made up of the Regional Transport Officer, the MC Assistant Engineer, and a police officer to finish the assignment by April 20 since the high court has also ordered the district administration to remove any encroachments on the roadways by April 23. The sellers that were given the stalls would have to secure connections for water and electricity.

Currently, 64 roadside street sellers can be found in different locations, such as Saproon, the old bus terminal, Chowk Bazaar, and so on.

The MC encouraged merchants wishing to have booths assigned to apply. The candidates underwent a thorough examination to make sure they owed the municipal body nothing.

It seems that the municipal corporation is facing an enormous struggle in order to keep the vendor market operational.

Since 2021, the allocation procedure has been postponed. Due to the local body’s lack of land ownership, the authorities had to wait almost three years to begin the booth assignment procedure. When Solan was a princely state, the territory in issue was a part of the former Department of Mandis.

All of these regions, with the exception of this property, are governed by the HP New Mandi Townships (Development and Regulations) Act, 1973. After bringing up the issue with the state administration, the MC authorities were able to get property ownership in 2023. This made it possible for the booths to be assigned in December of last year.

64 street sellers are active at the moment.

The MC is responsible for overseeing vendors’ activities in accordance with the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. The first step in that approach was the establishment of the specialized market.
Taking a harsh stance against the municipal body’s indolent attitude toward reopening the vendor market during the last four months, Solan Deputy Commissioner Manmohan Sharma has instructed the MC to finish the job by April 20.

Currently, 64 street vendors can be seen selling their wares along the side of the road at sites including Saproon, the old bus terminal, Chowk Bazaar, and more. The MC requested exhibitors submit applications in order to be assigned booths. The candidates were examined closely to make sure they owed the municipal body nothing.