KMC probes AI hawker ‘notice’

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has decided to probe an AI-generated eviction notice that was circulated among traders in the New Market area. The purported notice asked for all hawker stalls, dalas and encroachments near the Metro Esplanade station gate No. 6 and around the Grand Hotel to be vacated within a month, following which the civic body would conduct an eviction drive.

Hawkers said they had also seen images of the notice but weren’t sure if it was genuine or fake. Most of them are not bothered about any notice as they have aligned themselves to a union leader who moved from Trinamool Congress to BJP a few years ago. “Since the elections, we have been functioning under the umbrella of Kali Khatik’s hawker union. We know there will be no drive against us. It does not matter if a notice is genuine or fake,” said a hawker who sells women’s fashion accessories at Humayun Place.

Functionaries of SS Hogg Market Traders Association said while the KMC may look into the authenticity of the notice, what was clearly visible was the illegal encroachment on the road by hawkers at Bertam Street, Humayun Place and Hogg Street.

“We have already reached out to minister Dilip Ghosh and MLA Sajal Ghosh. They were sympathetic to our cause. Sajal Ghosh even raised the issue at the KMC House. For years, the hawkers have robbed us of business by occupying car parking lots, thereby driving away customers. We also intend to meet chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and minister Agnimitra Paul to draw their attention to the rampant illegal encroachment and seek a permanent solution,” said SS Hogg Market Traders Association president Ashok Gupta.