Mumbai: The Maharashtra government plans to
make registration compulsory for hawkers and make them liable
for imprisonment if they are found selling goods in
non-hawking zones.
A bill in this regard would come up for discussion in the
Legislative Council during the ongoing monsoon session of the
state Legislature.
"It is compulsory for hawkers to register with the local
bodies and necessary for the Government to define hawking and
non-hawking zones," the bill said.
The bill has given comprehensive definitions for
`hawkers`, `mobile hawkers` and `stationary hawkers` to
distinguish them from each other.
"Hawkers may have to face imprisonment up to six months
and a fine up to Rs 5,000 for hawking in wrong areas and
breaking any rules laid by the policy," it said.
The original policy was formulated by the Centre and sent
to the state for implementation. The state government
constituted a committee under the principal secretary, Urban
Development, to suggest necessary measures in the policy, an
official from the Urban Development Department said.
There are 15 lakh licensed hawkers in Mumbai, while five
lakh do not have any permit, he said.
PTI
