The National Green Tribunal today came down heavily on street vendors for encroaching space in Lajpat Nagar market here saying "if you will jump down on roads, we will throw you out".
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that although the Supreme Court has allowed the right of the hawkers but they cannot be allowed to encroach roads in an unscrupulous manner.
"Supreme Court order says that authorities were directed to carry out identification of sites for their (hawkers) shifting and not allow them to stand on metalled roads. There is something called Constitution and environment as well. You cannot sit on roads like this. 80 feet wide road has been reduced to 10 feet due to the encroachments by the hawkers.
"Nobody is opposed to rikshawalas and street hawkers but there has to be a balance. If corporate social responsibility requires companies and firms to spend millions then the hawkers also have to contribute in one or the other way. Article 19 is subject to restrictions. If you will jump down on roads, we will throw you out," the bench said.
The observations came after the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and the traffic police expressed helplessness in removing the hawkers from the metalled roads.
The tribunal had earlier directed that no rickshaw and hawkers would be permitted on the metalled roads in Lajpat Nagar.
The bench also directed Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board to temporarily provide parking facilities on the land available next to Kasturba Niketan opposite to MCD hospital till the construction of multi-level parking in the Lajpat Nagar.
It asked authorities concerned to submit a report as to why the multi-level parking proposals which are pending for years before the authority are not being implemented and how they would be implemented in a time frame.
