Kolkata: Kolkata Police and Customs officials descended on the century-old Galiff Street pet market in north Kolkata on Sunday morning to enforce a high court order against the illegal sale of protected wildlife, birds, fish, plants and other pets, while also restricting vendors without valid licences from setting up stalls. The action followed a Sept 16 directive of a division bench headed by Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge, which had asked the authorities to ensure that illegal trade at the weekly market was stopped from Sunday. Officials inspected the Sunday market, popularly known as Sokher Haat, while banners on the curbs were put up at several points. Police also made repeated announcements asking traders without KMC trade licences not to operate.The Bagbazar Sokher Haat Welfare Association also joined the drive, which focused on awareness on day one , using speakers to ask traders to comply with the court order and stop dealing in animals, birds, fish or plants that could not be legally sold.“No official seizure was made by police or Customs during the inspection,” a source said, adding that the first day largely focused on enforcement, awareness and verification of vendors.The court had directed that protected and endangered species of animals, birds, butterflies and plants could not be sold illegally and that traders must possess valid documents wherever such sale was legally permissible. Customs authorities were asked to take necessary steps to enforce the restrictions.Shyampukur police have also issued a notice stating that vendors would require a valid KMC trade licence to sit at the market.The requirement has triggered concern among traders, many of whom do not yet possess such licences.“We have more than 700 members. This is a century-old market and there was a time when the govt itself asked us to operate from here,” said Amar Chakraborty, a member of the market association. “We have been doing business for years. Now we are being told that we cannot trade on the road until KMC trade licences are issued. Many traders do not have licences. We have accepted the court’s order and are trying to comply with it.”Galiff Street’s Sunday market has long drawn buyers for pets, ornamental fish, birds and plants. During the Left Front regime, the market was shifted from the Hatibagan area after roadside stalls began obstructing traffic. Rows of kiosks were subsequently created at Galiff Street, though Sunday trading gradually spread onto the adjoining road as well.Rajendra Prasad Roychowdhury, legal adviser to the traders’ welfare association, alleged that a number of non-members had also begun using the market for unauthorised trading.“Many people who are not members come here and start selling fish and other items illegally. We have intercepted fish, carbon dioxide and plants allegedly brought in illegally and will hand them over to Customs,” he said.Officials said the focus of the exercise would be to separate legitimate pet and plant trade from the sale of protected species and other activities prohibited under existing laws and the court order.
