Jaipur: Around 125 shops in the tourist market near Hawa Mahal remained closed for nearly 90 minutes Friday as traders protested against Jaipur Municipal Corporation’s (JMC) vigilance department issuing challans for alleged encroachments.Traders alleged that the civic body was penalising shopkeepers while ignoring repeated complaints about encroachments near the old Assembly building.According to traders, the municipal team began issuing challans around 3:30 pm. Shopkeepers objected, claiming the challans did not carry an authorised municipal officer’s stamp and officials refused to check relevant records before issuing them. The market remained shut from around 4 pm to 5:30 pm.Satish Chandra Panchal, general secretary of Todi Bazaar Vyapar Mandal, alleged that the civic body had failed to act on complaints about vendors occupying footpaths near the old Assembly building.“Traders asked officials to remove the encroachments, but the municipal staff said they would issue challans first and look into the encroachments later,” he said.Panchal alleged that vendors spread their goods across footpaths, leaving little space for pedestrians and affecting parking and traffic movement. Traders also claimed the encroachments had contributed to accidents and demanded that the civic body clear the area.They further alleged that municipal staff drove away vendors who had encroached upon the area after shopkeepers protested.The traders’ association will hold a meeting on Saturday to discuss the challans and decide its next course of action. Traders have demanded action against encroachments near the old Assembly building and greater transparency in the challan process.
