Municipal commissioner stresses on collective action to tackle footpath encroachments

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE / Dehradun

Admitting that years of anti-encroachment drives have failed to provide a lasting solution, Dehradun municipal commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey said that the persistent occupation of footpaths by vendors cannot be tackled by the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) alone and requires coordinated action by all stakeholders.”The MCD has been taking action against encroachments almost every day but a long-term solution is still missing,” Pandey said, adding that the issue is not unique to Dehradun but is prevalent in cities across the country.

He said that he has already discussed the matter with the district magistrate and will hold further deliberations to work out a sustainable strategy. According to him, the district administration, MCD, police, traders’ associations and citizens must work together to reclaim public spaces meant for pedestrians. The municipal commissioner also placed responsibility on shopkeepers, saying that many vendors continue to occupy footpaths because they are allowed to operate in front of commercial establishments. He averred that in several cases, the space outside shops is even rented out to roadside vendors, making enforcement more difficult.

Pandey stressed that the police must also strengthen enforcement against illegal encroachments. “A permanent solution will emerge only when every stakeholder fulfills their responsibility instead of leaving the burden on a single agency,” he said.