Parishioners protest over hawkers at Bandra church

BMC COUNCILLOR SAID THAT THE RELOCATION IS TEMPORARY TO FIX THE FOOTPATH AT LINKING ROAD BEFORE THE CONTRACT EXPIRES ON DECEMBER 31

MUMBAI: Parishioners from St Theresa’s Church in Bandra started a signature campaign on Wednesday against relocation of hawkers around the church from Linking Road by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

“We got a letter from BMC last evening which stated that the hawkers will be shifted around the church. They said it is temporary but, in such cases, the hawkers first move temporarily and then occupy the place permanently,” said Theresa Aguir, chairperson, Bombay Catholic Sabha - St Theresa’s Unit.

Aguir said that the shifting of hawkers was a clear violation of thehighcourt’s (Hc)orderwhich was passed in November last year. The HC had said that hawkers should not be permitted within 100 metres from any place of worship, holy shrine, educational institutions and hospitals or within 150 metres from municipal or other markets or from a railway station.

While the ward officer was unavailable for comment, the councillor for H/west Ward said that the relocation of the hawkers was temporary and was done so that a patch of the footpath at Linking Road can be fixed before contract expires on December 31.

“We weren’t informed about the move earlier but we have now spoken to the ward officer. The plan was to move a few hawkers for four to five days but because of the objection raised by parishioners, we have shown them an alternate site in a lane opposite National College where we will move these hawkers,” said Swapna Mhatre, councillor, BMC.

Fr Jolly SVD, parish priest, who called for the protest, said, “There is a school near the church which will get disturbed with the vehicular traffic. Also, people won’t be able to walk once the footpath is occupied.