Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, February 4

Thirty-six-year old Shiva Gyawali of Panauti, Ward No 6, sells peanuts and other seasonal fruits around the Old Bus Park every day. This is the only source of income for his family which consists of his wife and two children.

Each day he has to undergo physical hardships and harassment by the metropolitan police. They often seize his goods and when he complains to the authority, they do not take any action. "I take precautions and abide by all the rules and laws, still they are rude to me and get wild most of the time," Gyawali complained.

However, a police official said that nobody in the Kathmandu Valley is allowed to spread their wares on the streets and those who disobey this regulation are bound to face punishment. "We carry out our duty in accordance with the instructions given to us," he said. Arjun Pandey, chairman of Ward No 29 admitted police action against the street vendors. "Despite the public notices and constant warnings, these vendors are found to disobey the rules and hence the action," he said.

"We are going to introduce a new policy on street vendors,"

informed Raja Ram Shrestha, Deputy Mayor of the KMC. "Street vendors should be removed immediately because they block the footpath," said Rasila Maharjan, a pedestrian.