Local Traders Protest Against Outsiders Taking Over Heritage Areas in Shimla city. The make shift tambu on The Mall are an eyesore disrupting movement of the touristy Mall in Shimla. These should be banned once and for all.
Shimla: The local shopkeepers and traders are up in arms against the state government's decision to allow outside vendors to set up shop in the heritage-rich areas of The Mall and The Ridge.
This move, they say, has not only dented their business but also marred the city's historic charm disrupting the movement of public on the chock a block The Mall and The Ridge.
Protests erupted as local traders, led by the Shimla Lakkar Bazaar association which was supported by other traders Business Association and the vendors accused the state government and the district mela committee of ruining their livelihood and the city’s ambiance.
The trouble started when the Shimla Summer Festival committee allowed temporary stalls and tents to pop up right in front of iconic landmarks like the Town Hall and Gaiety Theater on The Mall and The Ridge.
“This place is under Section 144 CrPC, but it’s as if the rules don’t matter anymore,” said one of the agitated shopkeepers.
“These outsiders come in and set up their makeshift shops, taking away our customers during the peak tourist season, rued Rajat Gulati, president of Lakkar Bazaar Business Association.
As many as 200 shopkeepers downed their shutters and led the protest March to the DC office.
They urged the DC Shimla Anupam Kashyap not to allow the shops in the Ridge and the Mall areas as they are hitting their business badly.
The four-day Shimla Summit Festival, meant to draw in tourists and boost the local economy, has instead become a bone of contention.
Local traders argue that the influx of outside vendors selling their goods in prime spots has left them out in the cold, especially when they were banking on the summer season to make up for the quieter months.
Chants against the state government and the mela committee echoed through the streets as traders demanded action.
It has been found that these makeshift stalls owners are paying Rs 6000 per day to Rs 9000 depending on the space.
“This isn’t just about our businesses; it’s about preserving the heritage of Shimla. The Mall and The Ridge are not places for pop-up shops,” another trader fumed.
The traders are calling for a ban on these makeshift stalls, urging the government to reconsider its policies and prioritize local businesses and the preservation of Shimla's historic zones.
As the debate rages on, the question remains: will the authorities heed their call, or will the allure of the quick buck from festival footfall continue to overshadow the concerns of those who’ve made a life here?
