Shops along the Orient Line in Darjeeling. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, May 30: The Darjeeling Municipality has decided to start evicting hawkers from next week.

“We have identified about 150 people who have put up wares on footpaths. Pedestrians are increasingly finding it difficult to walk through the town. We will not serve any notice on the hawkers as they do not have the permission to do business on footpaths. The drive to remove them will start next week,” said Dinesh Gurung, the vice-chairman of the civic body.

The municipality plans to clear the pavements along the roads in Orient Line. Gurung said even the hawkers in front of the G Building of the municipality would not be spared.

Gurung said the civic body would try to relocate the hawkers. “Since it is a matter of livelihood, we will identify a spot where they can be moved. Whether the hawkers accept it or not, they will have to stay in a designated area.”

Gurung hoped that the area for their rehabilitation would be identified before the eviction commenced.

The municipality will also earmark a common place for the stalls coming up along Nehru Road leading to Chowrastha during tourism season. Gurung said the space the traders would get there would be less than what they are used to. He added that pedestrians faced difficulties while walking through town during the season because of the stalls.

The municipality has also decided to act against unlicensed meat shops that have mushroomed in town.