Patna, June 17: The hawkers and vendors have taken over the city yet again and this time they have set their eyes on some new avenues in the capital.

Even the intervention of Patna High Court on the encroachment issue has been ineffective.

After the court’s intervention, the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) along with the police conducted anti-encroachment drive between May 7 and 10 but squatters came back in full strength within a day or two.

The new avenues include bedsheet and cloth sellers on Mangles Road and mango sellers on Bailey Road in front of JD Women’s College. Several plant sellers are also present near Patna police headquarter at north Gandhi Maidan. Several cane furniture sellers do brisk business in front of the residence of city superintendent of police and district magistrate of Patna at north Gandhi Maidan.

Authorities, however, still continue to give assurances. “The matter of encroachment pertains to the divisional commissioner of Patna and all our actions are according to his directives. The corporation is working as and when the directives are issued,” said PMC commissioner Devesh Sehra.

The divisional commissioner accepted the prevailing situation and claimed taking necessary steps. “We are taking regular video footage from various places and even today we have taken videos. It is true that encroachers are back at most places where the anti-encroachment drive was conducted. Moreover, I conduct regular meetings with all the agencies concerned including police, urban development department, road construction department, rural works department and others to assess the situation and take measures,” said K.P. Ramaiya, the divisional commissioner of Patna.

Ramaiya, however, expressed disappointment over the lack of measures for rehabilitation of vendors. “These vendors are in hundreds and it is important that they are provided proper rehabilitation after their eviction. PMC had earlier claimed to construct vending zones at 14 places and I believe the work was given to an UK-based agency called Department for International Development (DFID). However, we have not heard about any progress in that area,” added Ramaiya.

Earlier, state urban development minister Prem Kumar had said construction of vending zones would take at least a year. While the vending zones seem to be in a limbo, experts suggested some solutions. “Construction of vending zones equipped with lavatories, lights, seating facilities and garbage collection point, would take at least two to four years. It is better that some open area is provided for the time being so that they can carry out their business without encroaching. In the meanwhile, the construction of the vending zones could be done at its own pace,” said a senior state government officer.