Street vendors given the blame

Street vendors given the blame

SURABAYA, East Java: The head of the Surabaya Sanitation
Agency, Surjanto, said on Tuesday the agency found it difficult
to keep the city clean because of the increasing number of
vendors operating on the city's streets.

"The number of street vendors is increasing and getting out of
control. They have penetrated the banned areas, including along
the banks of the river, which they use for their daily
activities," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying on the
sidelines of a discussion on waste treatment here.

Surjanto also blamed the uncleanliness of the city on poor
facilities, limited funding and the economic crisis.

He did say the city had increased its budget for waste
treatment from Rp 17 billion in 1995 to Rp 21 billion this year.

However, he hinted that limiting the areas where street
vendors were allowed to operate would create another social
problem. "They (vendors) are there to earn a living. If we raid
them, they will fight back." (lup)