Licence mandatory to set up stalls on private land in Maharashtra's Lonavla

PUNE: The Lonavla Municipal Council (LMC) has made it mandatory to take permission to set up stalls on private land at picnic spots in and around Lonavla for the safety of visitors.
The move comes as the administration has taken a series of measures after the death of five people near Bhushi dam last week. LMC officials believe hawkers are likely to set up stalls on private land after their illegal stalls on the railway land near Bhushi dam were razed last week.
Permission for hawkers would be given only for spits that would not hamper vehicular movement.
“Crowd management is imperative, considering the increasing number of visitors in the monsoon period. After the demolition of stalls near the dam, private players may try to take advantage of the situation. So, we have taken the decision to keep a check,” said Ashok Sable, chief officer of LMC.
Sable said the civic body is not against stall owners but wishes to regularise their activities. “We want to maintain the situation. The safety and security of visitors is essential for us,” he said.
LMC officials said private operators had been illegally running their businesses near the dam for decades. Now, they are not ready to follow the rules.
“They earned good revenue from these stalls but did not give any revenue to LMC in the past. Now, they should not hesitate to pay charges to the council and abide by the rules,” a senior official from LMC said.
The police provided protection to the civic body during the anti-encroachment drive.
“The LMC should issue licences to those who will not cause any trouble to tourists at these spots. Eventually, it should create a conducive atmosphere for visitors and regulating agencies. We endeavour to promote safe and secure tourism in Lonavla,” said a senior police officer. Thousands of revellers, mainly from Mumbai, visit spots in and around Lonavla during the monsoon every year.