Mangaluru: 66 pushcart vendors are scheduled to receive new identification cards from the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) on November 1, according to Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur.

District In-Charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao will oversee the distribution of the new identity cards, which will specify designated areas for conducting business using pushcarts. To ensure compliance, surprise inspections will be conducted by officials to prevent any violation of the designated conditions.

MCC Commissioner Anand C L has stated that all identity cards issued in 2014 have become invalid. Scrutiny of the applications is currently ongoing, and the issuance of new identity cards will be carried out in phases.

In order to avoid road congestion within MCC limits, pushcart vendors have been advised not to occupy a single spot for business activities, but to conduct their business in the assigned areas.

MCC is currently in the process of identifying suitable locations for the establishment of vending zones, in line with the provisions of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, and the Karnataka Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Rules. These vending zones will be equipped with basic facilities such as toilets and drinking water. Ward-wise vending zones will also be identified based on available space, with the entire process expected to be completed within 15 to 20 days.

Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur has directed MCC health inspectors to conduct inspections of all food and juice stalls during future temple fairs, following reports of unhygienic conditions at a matka soda stall during Mangaluru Dasara at Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Temple.

The mayor has also instructed officials to conduct raids on shops that are selling banned plastic carry bags. He emphasized the importance of the PM SVANidhi scheme, which provides collateral-free working capital loans of up to Rs 10,000 to street vendors, including those who prepare eatables at home, fish, and flower sellers. As per the mayor, approximately 6,400 vendors have already benefited from the scheme.

Regarding the issue of stray dogs in various parts of the city, such as Ashoknagara, Kadri Kambala, Shaktinagara, and Kadri Park area, the mayor mentioned that corporators will deliberate on the necessary measures to address the menace. He further added that an average of 100 dogs are sterilized every month in various wards within the corporation limits.