Flower pots keep hawkers at bay

The consistent efforts by residents of Ice Factory Lane in Bandra (W) to get rid of illegal hawkers seem to be bearing fruit as the residents have managed to keep them away for a month now by placing flower pots along the sides of the roads.

According to residents, it had become impossible for them to walk or drive on the  road as it was occupied by illegal hawkers.

Complaining to the BMC did not help as the hawkers only got aggressive. Fed up, the residents of housing societies on Ice Factory Lane along with local MLA Baba Siddiqui placed flower pots on the road on June 14 to keep the hawkers away and to beautify the road. The residents have bought the pots out of their own pockets, with a few being donated by local representatives.

“We wanted a concrete solution to the issue as the hawkers were returning in spite of the BMC taking action. So, we decided to put the pots there, and no hawker has returned for a month now,” said a resident. The resident added the flower pots have been put up after getting the needed the BMC nod.

However, residents said that after the pots were placed, hawkers and local politicians started harassing and threatening them.

“The hawkers have now started harassing us by parking their vehicles in front of our gates,” said another resident. “Even a local MNS leader has threatened to put us behind bars if we don’t remove the pots.”

Fayaz Shaikh, a local MNS office-bearer who allegedly threatened the residents, said, “I have nt threatened any resident.”

“Some of the residents have complained me about the threats. I will be leading a delegation to the ward officer and police about the issue soon,” said MLA Siddiqui.