Flower market vendors object to eviction drive in old bus stand; police ensure smooth operation

The flower market vendors, who were selling their produce inside the old bus stand here were evicted on Tuesday.

The authorities from multiple departments had appealed in the past to the vendors to vacate the premises during the Rajavaikkal canal encroachment operation.

Since they remained inside the bus stand on the space meant for buses to ply, the officials had again warned the vendors to shift on their own.

When there was a lack of cooperation, the officials pulled up the temporary sheds, which were put up by the individual vendors inside the bus stand. Objecting to the ‘removal’, they picked up a wordy altercation and demanded alternative space.

As the situation appeared to go for a free-for-all, the police arrived and cleared the vendors.

Speaking to media persons, the vendors said that they cannot find any other space to sell their flowers. The district administration should find us a space as it was our livelihood issue, said Murugesan, a vendor.

About two years ago, when R V Shajeevana was the Collector, she had directed the officials to evict the 2.6 kms long Raja Vaikkal, which was encroached. Right from the old bus stand to the District Collectorate, the channel was encroached. As per the directive of the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench), the entire stretch was evicted then.

Though the multi-storey flower market, which functioned inside the old bus stand, was also operating on the encroached land, it was also cleared then. However, the vendors had put up make-shift thatched sheds in the space against the orders of the administration. Hence, it was evicted, officials added.