Kathmandu, Mar. 21:It has been felt that as the random use of roads, streets, lanes and Chowks of kathmandu as open shops has affected every segment of society in one way or other, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (kmc), Valley Traffic Police Office and other groups of people should take initiative to deal with this problem.

Especially minors and women with babies at places such as Ratna Park, Bhotahiti, Sundhara, Jamal, the Old Bus Park, Kalimati, Kalanki Chowk, Maharajgunj Chowk, Chabahil Chowk, Gaushala and Koteshwar have been obstructing the movement of not only people but also vehicles with constant fear of the municipal police.

These vendors, most of whom are victims of natural calamity in their native villages, come to Kathmandu to seek a better life for themselves and their offspring and sometimes they also tell their tale of sorrow in detail.

Krishna Thapa who is the mother of two, hails from Lamjung district and has been selling goods on the footpath for the last two years, says that the profit from selling goods worth Rs 500 a day is just sufficient to make ends meet for her family of four and the wage her husband earns by working as a house painter meets the cost of education of the children and other incidental expenses.

Shanti and Shata Budhathoki of Dolakha Jhingu say that when flood and landslide damaged all they had in their village and they had no other option for making a livelihood, they came to Kathmandu and have been selling watches and eye glasses despite harassment by the police administration.

Similarly, Man Kumari Ghimire who has been selling newspapers and magazines at Ratnapark for the last 17 years says that though her stall has not caused any difficulty to the pedestrians in any way, it is the municipal police she fears most. She says that she could sent her two children to college only because of her daily sale of Rs 700 to 1,000.

Most of the vendors say that as the municipal police started to seize goods from March 5 and keep them at the kmc store, it is impossible for them to conduct their trade.

They say that the recepits given to them do not mention the full amount of the fine paid and as there have been irregularities, the sum should to be deposited in the kmc fund.

Kmc deputy superintendent Bishnu Singh Basnet says that as the person paying a fine has also to sign the receipt, there is no question of police resorting to unfair practices.

On the issue of harassment by police in plain clothes, he says that the vendors are virtually playing hide and seek with the police. Police in civilian clothes who catch them first do not themselves impose fines. Article 165 C and D of section 10 of the Local Self-governance Act 2055 have made provisions for fines from Rs 101 to Rs 1,001, he adds.

About the arresting of some people while letting others go free, police officer Basnet says that 118 municipal police personnel including two women of the kmc Security Department were sent to various places turn by turn for inspection and if evidence of impropriety is found it will be easy to take departmental action.

As the kmc Security Department has only one vehicle and is short of mobile phone sand women police personnel, it is not easy to discharge one’s duty, Mr Basnet said adding the cooperation of the public at large is required to deal with the problem of footpath traders and make that trade better organised.

According to a kmc officer, if the footpath traders organise themselves and approach the kmc to seek redress, it will extend all possible cooperation and they would be allowed to sell their goods at specified places on holidays.