Mangaluru: Outstation flower vendors who arrived in the city hoping to earn during the Sri Krishna Janmashtami festival were left disappointed after the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) conducted an eviction drive against roadside stalls in and around Hampankatta.
The action was taken on Thursday following complaints from local residents regarding the occupation of footpaths by temporary flower stalls. The drive comes amid the MCC’s recent efforts to remove unauthorised vending structures and other encroachments from pedestrian pathways across the city.
For several vendors, however, the enforcement action came as a major setback as they had travelled from other districts with large quantities of flowers specifically for the festival season.
Vendors arrive from different districts for festival sales
Every year, flower growers and small-scale vendors from districts such as Hassan and Mandya, besides other parts of Karnataka, travel to Mangaluru during major festivals. Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesha Chaturthi, Nagara Panchami and Vijayadashami generally bring increased demand for flowers, prompting farmers and vendors to transport their produce to urban centres.
These vendors typically put up temporary stalls for a day or two before returning to their respective places after selling their stock.
The festival trade provides an important opportunity for small-scale flower growers and traders to earn additional income. Unlike permanent commercial establishments, these vendors depend heavily on short festival windows when demand for flowers rises sharply.
This year, several vendors reached Mangaluru on the eve of Sri Krishna Janmashtami carrying flowers with the expectation of selling them to devotees and residents. The eviction drive in Hampankatta, however, disrupted their plans.
MCC clears stalls from footpaths
MCC officials conducted the eviction operation in and around Hampankatta on Thursday after receiving complaints from residents. The temporary stalls and other materials placed on the footpaths were removed during the drive.
The civic authorities maintained that footpaths are primarily meant for pedestrians and must remain free from obstructions. Officials pointed out that unauthorised stalls can restrict pedestrian movement, particularly in busy commercial areas where footfall increases considerably during festivals.
Hampankatta is one of Mangaluru’s busiest commercial areas, and pedestrian movement tends to increase during festival periods. The presence of temporary vending structures on narrow footpaths can result in people being forced to walk on roads, potentially creating inconvenience and safety concerns.
The MCC therefore stressed that festival-related vending would not provide an automatic exemption from rules governing public spaces.
Officials warn against future encroachments
During the operation, officials reportedly made it clear that the civic body would continue to act against illegal occupation of footpaths.
The removed vending structures and other encroached materials were cleared to restore pedestrian access. Vendors were also warned that legal action could be initiated if they were found occupying footpaths illegally in the future.
The enforcement reflects the MCC’s wider efforts to keep public pathways accessible and address complaints concerning encroachments. While temporary stalls often become a familiar feature of Mangaluru’s streets during festivals, authorities have to balance such seasonal commercial activity with pedestrian safety and the orderly use of public spaces.
The issue is particularly relevant in crowded commercial areas, where even a small number of temporary stalls can significantly reduce the usable width of a footpath.
Street vendors’ association condemns action
The eviction has also drawn criticism from the Dakshina Kannada District Street Vendors’ Association.
Association honorary president B K Imtiyaz strongly condemned the MCC’s action, particularly because the affected vendors had come from other districts for the festival trade.
He argued that the civic body should not target farmers and flower vendors who travel to Mangaluru for a limited period to sell their produce. According to him, the vendors had come with flowers specifically for the Janmashtami market and faced losses after being removed from their vending locations.
Imtiyaz also alleged that the action was taken following complaints from certain vested interests. He described the treatment of the festival vendors as highly condemnable and called for greater consideration of the circumstances of small traders and farmers.
The criticism highlights the recurring challenge faced by urban authorities in regulating street vending. While footpaths need to remain accessible, temporary vending during festivals can provide an important livelihood opportunity for farmers and small traders.
Need for a balance between vending and pedestrian safety
The episode has once again brought attention to the need for designated vending spaces in busy parts of Mangaluru.
Street vendors depend on locations with high pedestrian movement because visibility and customer access directly affect their earnings. At the same time, pedestrians require unobstructed footpaths, particularly in crowded commercial areas.
A possible long-term solution could involve identifying suitable temporary vending zones during major festivals. Such spaces could allow flower sellers and other seasonal vendors to conduct business without blocking pedestrian pathways or creating traffic-related difficulties.
Advance communication with vendors could also help prevent situations where traders transport large quantities of perishable flowers to the city only to find that they cannot sell them at their intended locations.
For now, the MCC’s action has left several outstation flower vendors facing uncertainty after they travelled to Mangaluru expecting brisk festival sales. The incident underscores the importance of enforcing civic regulations while also ensuring that seasonal traders and small-scale farmers have reasonable avenues to participate in the city’s festival economy.