Pune: PMC Seals 80 Stalls For Trade License Non-Renewal
Pune, 3rd January 2024: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has sealed 80 stalls due to the non-renewal of trade licenses. PMC officials emphasize the annual renewal requirement for hawker licenses, accompanied by an associated fee.
Last week, notices were issued to 600 stalls for outstanding payments. With approximately 21,000 authorized hawkers in civic areas, the PMC is initiating a special drive to recover outstanding dues, resorting to stringent actions such as sealing stalls, as confirmed by Madhav Jagtap, head of the PMC’s anti-encroachment department.
Civic data reveals dues amounting to around Rs 45 crore from roadside vendors. Activists advocate for a broader focus on addressing illegal hawkers alongside these measures.
PMC officials underscore the significance of license renewal, citing its role in enabling licensed traders to access benefits outlined in the PMC’s hawkers’ policy. Licensed traders become eligible for welfare schemes introduced by both the state and union governments.
The license fee structure, finalized in 2019, categorizes traders into six groups based on areas and business prospects: A++ (Rs 200), A1 (Rs 100), A (Rs 50), B (Rs 25), C (Rs 20), and Group E workers (Rs 5).
To streamline norms for roadside vendors, a hawkers’ policy has been drafted, incorporating plans for color codes, logos for authorized hawkers, and a biometric system for authenticity verification.
PMC officials acknowledge the need to establish 288 hawker zones to accommodate all vendors. The challenge of incorporating hawkers from merged villages into existing or new zones is being deliberated as part of the civic body’s ongoing efforts.
