Lucknow Nagar Nigam promotes encroachment at Khazana Complex for Rs.600/month

Lucknow Nagar Nigam i.e. Lucknow Municipal Corporation is a local government for Lucknow, the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration in the city of Lucknow, in short, it is also known as LMC – Wikipedia.

Harsh reality of Lucknow Nagar Nigam

Lucknow Nagar Nigam which should check encroachment in the city is actually facilitating it, by taking Rs.600 per month from roadside vendors for establishing them illegally on the property of Khazana Complex, Marketplace, in Ashiyana (Sector-K) of Lucknow.

Khazana Complex is one of the oldest shopping complexes in Lucknow, which was established decades ago before the arrival of any mall. Khazana Complex has a boundary and footpath outside, which is also covered with trees is now fully captured and covered by these street vendors using permanent stalls, Plastic Tripals and bamboo sheds making it literally invisible from the main street, the market that is not visible because of these illegal street vendors promoted by Lucknow Municipal Corporation is seeing a continuous decline in getting new customers.

We have a famous quote in Hindi i.e. “Jo Dikhta hai, Wo Bikta hai”. Khazana Complex which is a large and beautiful infrastructure is literally invisible from its main street, due to which all shopkeepers at the complex are not able to get new business. Some of these street vendors might be doing more business on a daily basis than the shopkeepers in the complex, who first bought these shops or are paying higher rent and have to pay electricity bills, water bills, house tax bills, etc.

The greed of Lucknow Nagar Nigar of Rs. 600 per month per street vendor has destroyed the identity of Khazana Complex, and it shamelessly continues to do so, even though Khazana Vyapaar Mandal has raised the issue many times in front of the responsible authority.

Do you see such established Street Vendors outside Saharaj Ganj Mall, Phoneix Mall, or Lulu Mall? Or outside Vidhan Sabha? Then how Lucknow’s Municipal Corporation decides to destroy the livelihood of shopkeepers at Khazana Complex, and the market itself. As a result, many shops in the market are still vacant, selling on the street is better than conducting business from a shop.

Is there any law in the city for these street vendors? Or, Lucknow Nagar Nigam is free to do what it feels like? We don’t have a problem with anybody’s livelihood, but you cannot destroy us. Lucknow Nagar Nigam should allocate a place for steer vendors, instead of settling them just anywhere blindly. If Lucknow Nagar Nigar is responsible for civic activities in the city, then it should promote marketplaces and not get involved in raising and supporting illegal encroachment outside their property for money.

Our appeal to responsible authorities

These street vendors should be established at a place which doesn’t create a problem for our market. The market should be promoted, managed, and maintained properly by Lucknow Nagar Nigam. Market and every shopkeeper have their own concerns and problems, Khazana Vyapaar Mandal works hard to maintain the market from within, all we expect is some business in return and not these other issues of encroachment destroying the market’s visibility from outside by covering it with permanent stalls and illegal constructions. We don’t expect anything from anyone, but we will keep raising our voices.