Licence Fee: Clear Rs 75 crore dues in 2 months, Chandigarh MC tells 7K street vendors

The Municipal Corporation (MC) has set a two-month deadline for 7,308 registered street vendors to clear their fee dues. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Town Vending Committee (TVC), which was held today, after nearly 16 months.

The meeting was chaired by Municipal Commissioner-cum-Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh.

Of 10,903 street vendors registered in the city, only 3,595 are regularly paying the vending fee. As many as 7,308 vendors have fee dues amounting to Rs 75 crore. Nearly 2,352 vendors have not paid the fee even once.

“The MC has taken serious note of the non-payment of fee by 7,308 vendors, with dues reaching Rs 75 crore. These vendors now have a two-month time to settle their dues. Failure to comply with the deadline will result in strict action, including the cancellation of licence,” said an MC official. The committee also clarified that only those vendors, who have no fee dues, would be eligible for the draw of lots for site allocation.

About the financial struggles faced by some vendors, there were suggestions to waive fine. However, the officials stated that there was no provision to waive the penalty with the committee, and any such decision would require amendments to the relevant laws.

The committee resolved to crack down on vendors who have illegally sub-let the spaces allocated to them. The MC enforcement wing has been instructed to closely monitor such cases and take immediate action, including revoking the licence.

Anish Garg, a TVC member and representative of the Chandigarh Residents’ Association Welfare Federation (CRAWFED), suggested deployment of vending marshals in each sector to assist the enforcement wing in identifying defaulters. “We proposed that CRAWFED can provide a retired government officer or a policeman can be deployed as a marshal in each sector. The idea was well-received. We will provide full support in this initiative,” said Garg.