18 years on, 97 vendors await CMDA allotment

Chennai: Nearly 18 years after they were lot picked by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) for pavement space allotment in Koyambedu market complex, 97 fruit vendors are yet to receive their allotment orders from the agency.

The vendors, who under the name of Dr Ambedkar Small Shops Traders Association, even won a legal battle in July 2015 against the wholesalers at Koyambedu who opposed their shifting. The high court ruled in their favour, but action from CMDA has not been forthcoming.

“The CMDA received 10,000 applications. Each applicant paid Rs 500 at that time to buy the application for allotment. The lottery was held in November 1998 and 97 vendors were selected,” said A. Veerasami, association president.
Trouble began when wholesalers who were shifted to Koyambedu objected to allotment on pavements. “They said that if the reason behind shifting Kothawalchavadi market to Koyambedu was to clear congestion, then bringing pavement vendors would nullify the cause,” said a CMDA source. However, the HC observed that allotting pavement space to these vendors did not obstruct the passage of air and light, that it did not block the entrance to regular shops or that it contributed to congestion. “The court noted that some of the congestion was due to encroachment on shopping and service streets by regular traders,” said S. Mani, a member of the association. CMDA officials, when contacted, said the issue will be resolved soon.

Despite the ruling, Veerasami said the CMDA has been putting off execution of the orders for some reason. “We have sent reminders to CMDA Member-Secretary in September 2015 and we also petitioned the Chief Minister’s special cell regarding this issue two weeks earlier. But nothing has happened,” Mani added.