Customers check out merchandise at the temporary stalls near Hathua market in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, May 8: The anti-encroachment drive launched by the district administration has turned into a game of hide and seek.

On Saturday morning, a joint team of the traffic department, the district administration, Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the road construction department removed vendors and temporary stalls from Birla Mandir Road, off Khaitan market. However, most of them were back in business by the evening.

This morning, too, business started as usual in the narrow stretch outside Hathua market. The clamour was a little less today, as some of the regular vendors stayed away.

Not everyone, however, was scared of police action.

“I have nowhere else to go. This is the only source of bread and butter for me,” said Nand Kishore, the owner of a makeshift betel shop.

He added: “I removed my shop when the anti-encroachment team arrived yesterday. But I was back on the same spot a few hours later. I will continue this game till I am provided with proper rehab facilities.

“Why are the authorities not taking any action against the shops on the eastern side of the street that have also encroached the road by extending their construction?” he asked.

Earlier, Birla Mandir Road was a busy commercial street with around 25 or 30 unorganised shops that would sell ladies handbags and utensils. Tea stalls and cigarette carts were also common.

Around 10 such stalls had re-opened this morning.

The stalls on the eastern side of the street, meanwhile, exhibited their merchandise on the road.

“We live in a rented flat just opposite our stall on this road. My husband and I have been running this shop for over 20 years now. We are poor people. We do not have anywhere else to go. The government should provide us with proper rehabilitation,” said Malti Devi, who sells handbags for ladies on Birla Mandir Road.

Earlier, the Patna High Court had ordered that streets of the city were to be cleared of encroachments. The station house officers (SHO) of the areas concerned have been given the responsibility to ensure that once removed, the vendors do not return to encroach the pavements.

“The officers are conducting regular patrolling in the area to ensure that vendors do not come back. But some of them keep coming back. We have warned them that such encroachment would not be tolerated and the police would start arresting the vendors under various regulations, including Damage of Public Property Act. PMC officials are also empowered to fine such vendors,” said the SHO of Kadamkuan police station.

Senior police officers claimed they would follow up of the anti-encroachment drive.

“Even after removing them, some vendors come back. It is the responsibility of the SHOs to keep them at bay. If encroachments are still there, the police department would take strict action against them,” said D.K. Mishra, deputy superintendent of police, Patna.

Chandra Shekhar Narayan, executive officer, PMC Bankipore division, said: “Though the PMC is responsible for ensuring there is no encroachment throughout the city, if the SHO fails to implement the move in his respective area, he could be held guilty of a contempt of court.

“The civic body is trying to construct a vending zone for unorganised vendors,” added Narayan.