Jaipur: Jaipur Municipal Corporation-Heritage (JMC-H) is conducting repeated anti-encroachment drives as the Walled City is struggling between preserving its heritage and the daily bread of small vendors. From Badi Chaupar and Chhoti Chaupar to Tripolia Bazaar, Ramganj, and Chandpole, the issue persists. Vendors are removed, only to return the next day.Satveer Kumar Singh, selling patties near Badi Chaupar Metro station, now uses a bicycle after his cart was seized. “Corporation took my cart away and fines were implied ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,000. I am the only earner in family making barely Rs 12,000 a month,” he said.Nearby, Munni Bai spreads a rug over pavement to sell small items. “I want to help my sons, but whenever the municipal van arrives, I pack everything away. Otherwise, they will fine me Rs 500 to Rs 2,000,” she said.Once choked with carts, Ramganj now shows a different picture. Vendors sit roadside, their wares spread on ground. Ravi Sharma, medical shop worker said, “With carts gone, customers find it easier to walk and encroachments should also be removed completely.”But vendor Sunil Meena disagrees, saying, “From my cart, I earned around Rs 2,000 a day. Now it’s hard to make even Rs 1,000,” he said.Fruit-seller Laxmandas Hemnani, who is working there for 50 years, added, “The real problem is not us, it’s street carts blocking roads. Corporation rarely comes but police trouble us daily.”In Tripolia Bazaar, Shivam Jain explained the cat-and-mouse game, “When corporation van arrives, we run into the lanes. Morning vendors are removed, but evening vendors escape.”Municipal vigilance deputy commissioner Pushpendra Singh Rathore said, “We have imposed fines worth Rs 1 lakh. A permanent solution lies in setting up vending zones, but the meeting has been pending for two years. Issue also includes illegal parking and oversized vehicles.”JMC-H commissioner Nidhi Patel said civic body’s hands were tied, “Even if we hold a vending committee meeting, a court stay order is in place. Until this is resolved, all we can do is continue anti-encroachment drives.”
