Action against footpath encroachers

Dec 02,2006 00:00 by DT Correspondent

Darjeeling: After the polythene drive from Darjeeling Chowkbazaar, Mr. Dinesh Gurung, commissioner of Chandbari, once again tried to widen up the most crowded footpath of Darjeeling, N. B Singh Road (orient lane). Mr. Gurung confiscated the goods from footpath shops against their illegal encroachment of footpath areas, where walking is very difficult for town dwellers. The initiative was taken on the basis of appeal made by recently formed Darjeeling citizen forum.

Later, venders of footpath shops gathered at Municipality office and protested the action by Mr. Dinesh Gurung, chanted slogans against Municipality and Mr. Gurung that Municipality being unfair with poor people, every day they are paying Rs 5 /- as a tax to Municipality, without any notice Municipality can not act like this.

The confiscated goods were returned to footpath venders under certain terms and conditions prepared by Darjeeling Municipality.