Tension at Palayam Market over demolition of shops

Tension rises as Thiruvananthapuram Corporation demolishes shops for market redevelopment despite traders' protests and legal challenges.

Tension prevailed near the Palayam Connemara Market area on Tuesday after Thiruvananthapuram Corporation officials continued with the drive to demolish shops at the old market as part of the market redevelopment project. After the initial attempt to remove the materials from inside the shops and demolish the buildings were prevented by a section of the protesting traders, the drive continued with the support of the police force.

Civic body officials broke open the locks and put out the materials from some of the shops, even as a small group of traders continued to protest. The drive to demolish the existing shops to make for the construction of the new market started last week. A section of the traders have refused to move to the rehabilitation block constructed nearby, citing, among other issues, unhygienic conditions.

J. Rejas, secretary of the Palayam Connemara Merchants and Labourers Association, alleged that the Corporation officials, by going ahead with the demolition, have violated an order of the Kerala High Court as per which the civic body had to remove the accumulated legacy waste near the rehabilitation block and submit a report before demolishing the old structures.

“We will approach the court again to stop this forcible eviction. The association will decide the course of action to be taken after a meeting of all stakeholders,” said Mr. Rejas.

The merchants’ association had recently moved the High Court seeking a stay on the Corporation’s plan to shift the traders to the rehabilitation facility. Although the High Court had on April 8 issued an interim order halting the eviction of traders as well as demolition of the old structure, it decided not to extend the order on April 10 as the Corporation submitted that the traders are being shifted to another building on the same plot, which is air-conditioned and has better facilities.

Corporation secretary S. Jahamgeer said that the traders will need to function from the rehabilitation block for less than a year, after which they will be accommodated in the redeveloped market.

“The existing market lacks enough space and also does not have proper waste treatment facilities. However, the temporary rehabilitation block, built at a cost of ₹16 crore, has a sewage treatment plant, drainage facilities and fire safety measures. An agency deployed by the Corporation has also begun bio-mining activities to scientifically dispose of the legacy waste near the rehabilitation block. All the fish and meat vendors have shifted to the rehabilitation block, while only a few, who appear to have vested interests, have refused to move. The project was tendered back in 2020, but the delays have led to cost escalation,” said the secretary.