Planning for a better Kolkata

The first service providers for new residential colonies outside of the main city of Kolkata are shanties.  Because of political pressure, once they set up shop, they cannot be dislodged.   And it is also a fact of life that only shanties with their low capital cost will venture first in these untested waters.  Big commercial comes much later, when returns are assured in sufficient volume to cover their large overheads. Hence for the early birds in any new residential colony, these shanties and the morning market (haat) is god-sent.  

When the area is fully developed, however, there is often a hue and cry about the existence of these very shops and very often by the early patrons themselves.  Lack of hygiene and assault on aesthetic sensibilities are primarily cited as the overwhelming reasons for their removal. Depending on political inclination (a risk few leaders take), sometimes the vendors are forcefully evicted, leading to resentment.  It is obviously a genuine and sudden loss of livelihood for people who have very few opportunities for honest living in these times of overpopulation, and recession.

Basic principles of town planning and urban sociology dictate that this needs to be managed. As both sides of the issue have very valid and cogent arguments in their favor, a solution to address both will need to be implemented .  Land should be set aside on site-n-services or plug-n-play basis to accommodate a fixed no. of such service providers.  Selection should be by lottery (conducted by Govt. in presence of judiciary) and beyond the stipulated no. any further such ventures should be strictly prohibited. In case of Govt. projects, suitable area should be earmarked in the master plan,  For large housing projects, provisions may be incorporated in the by-laws, allowing such structures to be beyond FAR, while ensuring allotment of area within the premises. The same rules of allotment will apply for the spaces provided within private development as for Govt. allocations. Right to the area will remain with the Govt. as the Lessor.