KOLHAPUR: Corporators on Friday came down heavily on civic officials over their failure to check illegal vendors plying business in residential areas of the city. 

Raising the issue during the standing committee meeting, the corporators said Tarabai Park, Nagala Park, Shivaji Park and Kadamwadi road are among the residential areas that have been facing the hawker menace. 

Nilesh Desai, corporator from Tarabai Park area, said, "Street vendors selling fast food and vegetables have come up in large numbers along bus stands and nearby residential areas. We want stern action against them." 

Some corporators also raised concerns over the rising number of hawkers in the BT college area. They said that these hawkers possess two biometric cards, none of which are issued by the KMC. 

According to the civic body officials, out of the 8,300 hawkers in the city, only half of them have procured the biometric cards. 

Calling for urgent steps against the illegal vendors, the corporators said they obstruct vehicular traffic and are also hurdle for pedestrians. 

An official from the civic estate department said, "The hawkers' committee will decide on the no-hawking zones. We will ask the hawkers to provide a photocopy of their biometric cards to the department. Joint action must be initiated against those without biometric cards." 

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