A group of senior citizens from Mayur Vihar Phase I in East Delhi have formed a pressure group to free the Mayur Vihar Extension area of encroachments.
The senior citizens took this step after repeated pleas to get the neighbourhood area markets free of encroachment fell on deaf ears of the local police, area municipal councillor and local politicians. A senior citizen group led by VK Gohil, general secretary of senior citizen club of Mayur Vihar Phase I Extension housing societies, has requested the commissioner of East Delhi Municipal Corporation to give replies on why the encroachments were still in place.
Govil told City Spidey, “We have sent separate letters to the EDMC mayor, the municipal commissioner, local MLA Raju Dingan and East Delhi MP Mahesh Giri.” He said residents have been complaining about illegal encroachment by vendors and local shopkeepers. Despite several complaints, no action has been taken. “Only, now the number of roadside vendors has increased in the past six months,” Govil said.
He alleged that shopkeepers and some politically influential people were settling the vendors on the roadside areas. “It won’t be appropriate to take a particular name but it is well known that some politically influential people in the area are giving full support to these vendors. Many food stalls, food and vegetable stalls and chicken stalls are running on profit sharing between vendors and these people,” Govil alleged.
The shopkeepers, too, have extended their counters beyond the specified limits. The common area between the shops have been encroached upon, leaving little space for the people to walk, Govil added.