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Phublished on August 28,2007

on city streets and intersections - and increase punishment for buy¬ers as well.Pom Prab (Sattru Phai) district director Chanitsorn Seubsang led municipal officers and police to put up 10 signs yesterday morning warn¬ing people against buying and selling fried bananas along Chakkapat Road. This occurred after the area was swamped by street hawkers.

The large signs said sellers and buyers were breaching the Public Cleaning Act and liable to be fined up to Bt2,000 for selling bananas and up to Bt1,000 for buying them.

Sellers stayed away from the roads as signs were put up. They complained later that the officials' presence blocked their earnings, but passing motorists noted the action and backed the officials.

Earlier this year, the BMA and police declared they would punish sellers violating the law by fining them from March 1. But sellers continued doing business on public space, will¬ing to risk a fine in exchange for hefty profits.

A Chakkapatpong commu¬nity resident said previously there were only two suppliers of fried bananas in the area. But the pair fought, which had led to fierce competition among sellers who could earn up to Bt20,000 a day - up from the normal Bt10,000.

However, there were fewer buyers recently because a pack of eight fried bananas cost Bt20 and some packs were damaged by rainwater, he said.

Chanitsorn said the district erected signs at various intersections such as Chakkapatpong, Lan Luang, Maensri and Thewakam to prevent people from buying fried bananas on the streets. The district also had a special unit to work with police to tackle the issue and get sellers and buyers fined at the district office.

Deputy inspector for traffic at Nang Lerng Police Station, SubLieutenant Khomchan Khongkla, said the fried banana business went on day and night, rain or shine, caus¬ing traffic jams, especially during rush hours. There was at least one accident in which a young seller was hit by a car.

Jeerawan Prasompap

The Nation