NIBM residents allege PMC-hawker nexus in locality, seek probe

Irked over the inactions of the Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) Anti-Encroachment Department, residents of the NIBM Annexe area have alleged that a hawker-crime syndicate has been operating in their locality and accused the civic body of aiding it.

- Indu Bhagat

According to the residents, illegal hawking activities take place from Backstreet to SM Ghule Chowk.

Jaymala Dhankikar, a resident of the NIBM Annexe area, said, "We reached out to PMC several times complaining about the illegal hawkers operating in our area, but it went unheard most of the time. Sometimes, they would visit the site and assure the residents, but they did not take any strict action against them."

"I wrote a letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra to address the issue. I mentioned that the hawker mafia operates with impunity, endangering our safety and encroaching upon public spaces. Instead of addressing the issue, the department seems to be aiding the illegal activities," Dhankikar alleged.