Mumbai Gov to SC: unable to remove roadside hawkers

New Delhi, Jul 25 (UNI) The Maharashtra Government today admitted before the Supreme Court that its order dated December 9, 2003, banning roadside cooking in the Metropolitan city of Mumai, have not been complied with till today.

Solicitor General of India G E Vahanvati told the bench, comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices Dalveer Bhandari and H S Bedi that Municipal Corporation of Mumbai(MMC) could not ban roadside cooking as office-goers in the city eat food at these places.

Counsel for the petitioner, Maharashtra Ekta Hawkers Union however contended before the court that it was strange and shocking that the Government is unable to carry out the directons of the apex court only because office-goers take food at roadside eating joints.

He also alleged that pavement in the city has virtually disappeared and the cooking is being done under most unhygienic conditions. All the utensils and other things are washed on the road and pavements are fully occupied by these cooking joints, leaving no space for the pedestrians to walk.

UNI SC RSA RN2157