Shillong, Jul 25: Acting Syiem of Hima Mylliem Alban Fredrick Syiem on Saturday inspected Ïewduh, the state’s largest market, to hear grievances of vendors.
He was accompanied by Basan of Nongkseh Nathan Thangkhiew, Myntris Iaineh Nongkhlaw and Baswel Shanpru and others.
Syiem said the market was congested and sanitation was “deplorable.” He added that drug addicts were frequenting the area with syringes found lying around, and that complaints of a “heavy stench” in various parts had been received.
On congestion, Thangkhiew said the state government had proposed a G+5 building for the market, but only the ground floor is complete. “We expect the state government to provide funds to complete the building. If we can build the five extra floors we hope there will be less congestion,” he said.
He said the Hima office has received multiple complaints on stench and poor sanitation. Hima Mylliem employs 47 sanitation workers who clean daily, but lack of storage leads to vegetables rotting and being dumped haphazardly.
On encroachment, he said standing order mandates goods be displayed inside shops and not on public pathways. Nongkhlaw said Hima officials on law and order duty have been asked to get shopkeepers to dismantle structures encroaching public space. He also urged vendors to bag rotten vegetables to help sanitation workers, and called on leaseholders of public washrooms to maintain cleanliness.
Shanpru said Hima Mylliem will strictly enforce the ban on single-use plastic. “If we find anyone violating the order we will take action as per law,” he said, adding that officials will be sent to ensure no shops use banned plastics.
The dorbar urged all shopkeepers to cooperate to improve cleanliness in Ïewduh.
