Pune: Road Side Hawkers Receive Notices From PMC

Pune, 25th June 2021: Already in an acute financial crunch, the hawkers now have to fight another trouble. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has served notices along with fines to hawkers for doing their business on the roads.

PMC also has included the interest on the fine amount adding to the woes. The anti-encroachment department while slapping the notice along with the daily fine also has included the interest amount if the hawkers fail to pay the fine in time.

PMC is expecting about Rs 12 crores from this action. Hawkers have received a fine amount from Rs 15,000 to Rs 85,000.

Meanwhile, corporator Siddharth Dhende had presented a proposal to waive the rent and fine. “For over a year hawkers’ business was severely affected due to Covid-19. Except for vegetable vendors, no other vendors were allowed to do their business which has reduced their income. Instead of giving them a helping hand, we are fining them,” Dhende said.

• Total number of hawkers 48,500
• According to the business type they have to pay Rs 25 to Rs 100 as rent

Deputy commissioner (Encroachment) Madhav Jagtap said, “The notice has been sent as the hawkers have failed to pay the fine for the year 2019-2020. We are expecting to collect Rs 12 crores through this. The notice is completely legal.”