Freeing Footpaths

That a few members of the police force are standing in the way of the eviction drives by Dhaka South City Corporation, according to Mayor Sayeed Khokon, to free footpaths of illegal occupation in Gulshan area, seems a measure of how things have gone out of hand. The mayor had launched the laudable initiative in December last year with the objective of clearing out street vendors in that area in 30 days.

That quite didn't work out the way it was envisioned, with footpaths being re-occupied by vendors the same day they were evicted because of a few policemen, according to the mayor.  

The well-made pavement free for pedestrians to walk on is a distant memory in this city. According to several reports, more than 70 percent of the footpaths are occupied by different kinds of vendors who eke out a living by selling all sorts merchandise. 

How can the eviction drives of the city corporations be successful if the police do not cooperate? Under what circumstances a mayor has to express his grievances at a programme held at the National Press Club?  How can the mayors be effective if they are not given enough power and support to do their job? 

At the same time it is well to remember that eviction drives, no matter how well-intentioned, will not be productive without making arrangements for the rehabilitation of the hawkers.