MATHABHANGA

Free for all footpaths at Mathabhanga town

Encroachment of footpaths along different streets and roads is a major problem in Mathabhanga sub-divisional town in Cooch Behar district. At many places the hawkers and small stallholders occupied the footpaths to run their business. As the footpaths are being used for other purposes the streets are narrowing. Occupying the footpaths and even encroaching the roads a number of constructions came up in this town.  Now, it is hard for the pedestrians and even vehicles to pass through the roads safely and easily. Citizens complain that the municipal authority is not looking after the problem. Students are the worst sufferers, as many of them have to go to their schools on foot.

Many shops along the Bazar Road came down to the road from the footpath. A shopping complex also came up adjacent to the road. The condition of the busy Immigration Road from Shani Mandir to Minibus Stand is also similar. The footpath along this road is under control of the encroachers. The civic body constructed a footpath with railings but ignoring it the hawkers are using the railings to hang their merchandise to attract buyers. It also turned a problem for the pedestrians. Eateries came up on the newly built footpath in front of the police station. The footpath along Manimala Road is also under the encroachers. They have occupied almost all footpaths along the streets in the town like Sitalkuchi Road, Boarding Road, BN Road, Manomohan Road and Ashutosh Road.

A number of citizens alleged that the Mathabhanga Municipality conducts its duty by mere public announcement asking the encroachers to leave the footpaths. These announcements fall in deaf ears and no one was found eager to leave the footpath. The authorities are not interested in evicting the encroachers and take any action against the illegal constructions, they alleged.

When asked, the chairperson of Mathabhanga Municipality Ms Kokila Sinha admitted that due to different reasons it is not possible for them to evict the illegal encroachers. She however assured that the issue would be tabled in the next meeting of the municipal board.