The barbers were told to demolish the structures and vacate the space by end of January, failing which, the by-law officers would descend. Last Thursday, a day before the deadline, they obeyed the order. The barbers, who are mostly young men, are apprehensive of the future because they are being deprived of their means of livelihood. They are now forced to use umbrellas to serve customers.
The barbers foresee loss of business to established salons because customers might not be comfortable getting their hair cut under umbrellas, which have no privacy.The barbers said that though they knew they were trading illegally, they opted to break the law and build permanent structures because they were dealing with human hair. They said cutting hair in the open is not wise because it can easily be blown away by the wind, polluting the environment.On Thursday, the young men were removing the materials they used to build shacks as they felt they can use them again elsewhere. "We were given up to the end of January to have removed the shacks or else they will come and destroy them and dump them at the landfill," said Titus Tom who has been operating his barbershop for over 10 years. He said he is afraid that soon, he will be left destitute as there would be no business for him."I have my own customers who come here every month end for a hair cut. I do not think they will be comfortable with being shaved under an umbrella," he said.He said that they were going to use umbrellas as decreed the by-law officers because they do not have a choice.
