No street vendors, cycle rickshaws in Lajpat Nagar market: NGT

New Delhi: In a bid to avoid congestion and ease flow of traffic, the National Green Tribunal has directed street vendors and cycle rickshaws to go off the streets in Lajpat Nagar market here.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swantanter Kumar came down heavily on street vendors for encroaching space in the market.

"No hawkers or any other trolleys would be permitted to be parked or stationed on the metalled roads. There shall not be parking of cars across the road in more than one lane on either side of the road," the bench said.

During the hearing, advocate Indira Unninayar, appearing for NGOs Manushi Sangathan and Delhi Shramik Sangathan which is representing the street vendors and cycle rickshaw pullers, intervened in the matter and sought stay of the tribunal's February 17 order which had said that no rickshaw or hawkers would be permitted on the metalled roads.

"An order prohibiting street vendors from metalled roads would defeat the purpose of the Street Vendors Act by allowing it to become a fresh tool of harassment while being far removed from playing any role in cutting down vehicular pollution," the NGOs plea said.

On this the bench reiterated, "show us one judgement which permits hawkers on the metalled roads or they can station themselves on the road."

It also pulled the Delhi government for not implementing its directions to control vehicular pollution.

"We had directed NCT Delhi and other state governments to submit their views on methods of controlling vehicular pollution, cap on vehicles, number of vehicles and their age, congestion charges, control and prevention of construction activities, checking of vehicles for pollution test at entry points, overloading of trucks and construction of parking areas in congested areas of Delhi to avoid congestion.

"Unfortunately, we find no response... We issue direction to all the state governments, public authorities, corporation and NCT Delhi to produce all original records before the Tribunal to show what action has been taken by all the authorities for compliance of the directions. Let these records be produced on April 10," the bench said.

The tribunal ordered Delhi government to place jersey barriers to ensure vehicles do not take a U-turn from wherever possible and lead to traffic disruption.