20 spots under constant watch, BMC tells court

ILLEGAL HAWKING | Civic body says it is undertaking checks in all wards to ensure hawkers do not set up stalls without consent

- Urvi Mahajani

The BMC informed the Bombay High Court on Tuesday that it has identified 20 areas in the city and is keeping regular vigilance to ensure that illegal hawkers and vendors do not put up their stalls. BMC counsel Anil Singh submitted an affidavit pursuant to earlier High Court directives asking the civic body to find a solution to the illegal hawking menace. Previously, the HC had asked BMC to identify 20 areas on a pilot basis and then replicate the same in the rest of the city.

The court had taken suo motu cognisance of the issue while hearing a 2022 petition by mobile shop owners in Borivali, who claimed that access to their shops was blocked by illegal hawkers. The court has since been monitoring the actions of the state, the BMC, and the police regarding various complaints against the "hawkers menace".