GO sends LMC into a tailspin

Tehbazari ends. But, this begins a series of trouble for the LMC. Contractors want  their money back. The LMC is stuck midway, doesn’t know how to go about it.   

JUST LAST year, president of  Saptahik Bazar Dukandar Kalyan  Samiti ‘Rafique’ committed self-immolation to protest against tehbazari extortion. On February 28 this year, Chief Minister  Mulayam Singh Yadav announced abolition of tehbazari system and introduction of the National Policy for Street Vendors in the state.

But, the LMC floated tenders despite the announcement claiming that the corporation has yet to receive the GO. On June 16, the LMC receives a directive from the CMO to end all kind of tehbazari with immediate effect. Now the LMC doesn’t know what to do! The order has shaken the LMC.

Municipal Commissioner VP Singh admitted he has received orders on fax from the CMO. Presently, the LMC is earning a whopping 2.25 crores from tehbazari contractors spread over 47 spots.

Today nearly 10 contractors approached the LMC officials to claim back their money, which they have deposited for the tehbazari contract. According to Additional municipal commissioner AC Sinha, “We don’t have any idea what will replace tehbazari. It is for the government to propose. But we are worried about the loss of revenue. We want a compensatory package.”

Another LMC official said, “The abolition of tehbazari would only increase the extortion by the police and loss for LMC, like we have lost octroi on heavy vehicles but police continue to have it from them.”

The thing which has hurt the LMC officials most, is the loss of “indirect income” generated from tehbazari contractors. The tehbazari mafia –LMC nexus has suffered a big blow after the CM’s order. According to sources LMC earns nearly Rs 2.25 crores per annum through the tehbazari tenders and contractors earn more than Rs 25 crores per annum through the tehbazari contracts. And no one (right from the contractor to LMC officials) want to leave their pound of flesh from the huge money involved in the whole process. The decision will affect thousands of street vendors this way.

President of  of Saptahik Bazar Dukandar Kalyan  Samiti Nadeem has welcomed the CM order on tehbazari, “We lost our leader Rafique last year due to the tehbazari. We are happy after the announcement by the chief minister.” Nadeem said, “Saptahik Bazar Dukandar Kalyan Samiti (SBDKS) has already requested for card system as adopted by the municipal corporations of Delhi, Mumbai, Pune  etc. We would welcome implementation of National Policy for Street vendors.”

Nadeem said, “If they implement card system properly then only through weekly markets LMC would be earning five times more than what they earn by tehbazari contract annually.”