On Sunday 10 Feb 2008 5:02 pm, Udhay Shankar N wrote: > It's no longer possible to go get something to eat in VV Puram at 1 > AM. It used to be.
If I may launch off into one of my tangents - this area of VV Puram falls very close to the area covered by the Local residents Association of the area that I live in, and we have close contacts with the residents association of VV Puram of that area. Pavement restaurants, while admittedly fun for those who drive in from a distance, have been unregulated and have become a nuisance for local residents. There are regulations governing who is and is not allowed to set up a part time or semi permanent business establishment on a pavement. These regulations are regularly flouted when no one complains, but once complaints start coming in, it may be curtains for such businesses. There are many rules that are broken by these vendors, and a few include cooking and selling food in uncovered containers open to the street dust and flies, unhygienic and unsafe garbage disposal (chuck it into storm water drain), absence of facilities for cleaning of reusable utensils apart from noise and light that may be a nuisance to people living nearby. Apart from occupation of a pavement for an activity for which the pavement should not be used. Public space being used for private profit in other words. The evolution of such businesses in India starts with "Just setting it up" (Just do it). If uncontrolled we get a Gandhi Bazaar like situation in which the entire pavement is occupied by illegal vendors who do not pay a paisa of tax, but have been there long enough to get political support against being chucked out and being deprived of a livelihood. And that despite the fact that pedestrians can neither walk on the pavement for the vendors, nor on the street for the traffic, and civic services have no access. The second stage after "just do it" is complaints and agitation by locals that ensures that some areas are freed from illegal businesses. The third stage is "Corporators visit Europe to see how it is done there" The final stage may be a semblance of civilization and rule of law. shiv
