Encroachers back in Fort Kochi

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The authorities have failed to find a lasting solution to encroachments by vendors in the heritage zone in Fort Kochi, as many of them have come back to their old spots.

The encro-achers have set up stalls on footpaths near the bea-ch, obstructing free movement of pedestrians. On January 14, the local body, district administration and police had removed the more than 100 odd unauthorised stalls in the area.

The police personnel, deployed in the area failed in checking further encr-oachment, said Adv Anto-ny Kureethara, division councillor.

“There should be a permanent system to remove the makeshift shops from the public space and rehabilitate them,” said Kureethara.

Meanwhile, the corporation town planning auth-orities are planning to launch a drive soon to dislodge all the vendors from the heritage zone.

“We’ll clear the area before the next tourism season begins. There will be a permanent monitoring system to prevent further encroachment,” said K.J. Sohan, chairman of town planning standing committee. According to him the issue would be permanently resolved once the bus station and the sho-pping complex are opened.

There have been allegations that the traders have come back with the support of political parties.

Though the corporation had relocated the vendors to the shops built by Tourism Department in a nearby place, more people have set up stalls near the beach. The vendors have put up stalls even on parking lots in front of the corporation’s zonal office.

Earlier, the High Court had given a directive to the district collector to take strict measures against the unauthorised shops in Fort Kochi. The directive was based on a public interest litigation filed by Carnival Paitrika Samrakshana Forum.