Vegetable, fruit vendors eat up green space in Mohali

Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 7

Illegal fruit and vegetable vendors in Mohali have been enjoying a free run, thanks to the lax attitude of the Municipal Corporation authorities. They have now started encroaching upon the green area in Phase XI here.

Residents said encroachment by vendors on the green area in front of their houses was causing nuisance, especially during the evening hours. The number of vendors increases during the evening hours.

Former Deputy Mayor Manjit Singh Sethi said encroachment by vegetable and fruit vendors was a common sight in the city. There was no check on the mushrooming of illegal vendors. He said encroachment by vegetable vendors could be seen near the parks in Phase 3 and 3B1 and open space in front of the Phase 3B1 market.

Sethi said more than 200 vegetable and fruit vendors could be soon on the road passing from Phase 1 to the traffic lights near the SSP’s office, causing traffic hazard. Encroachment was being done under the patronage of political leaders. Residents had been regularly complaining about the menace to the authorities concerned, but nothing had been done yet.

Surinder Singh, a resident of Phase XI, said encroachment by vegetable vendors near the park area was a nuisance as children could not play or move around the area. If the authorities failed to check the mushrooming of vendors, then there would be hardly any space left where people could have a walk in the morning and evening hours.

Municipal Commissioner Kamal Kumar Garg could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.