Shillong, Oct 20: The East Khasi Hills district administration has served eviction notices to vendors allegedly encroaching on the Shillong-Dawki Road at 4th Mile and 7th Mile.
Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal said the replies of the vendors are being examined and the administration will sit with the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to determine the legality.
“The replies are being examined and once those replies have been examined, we will sit down with NHIDCL to understand the legality of the same,” Baranwal said.
He said removal of encroachments along national highways was necessary in public safety interest and in compliance with Supreme Court directions, which are being monitored by the Ministry concerned and the state government.
The action follows concerns raised by the public and local shnong authorities over vendors operating along the highway.
It may be mentioned that the Meghalaya High Court had also taken note of unauthorised fruit and other stalls along the national highway.
Setting up stalls or any commercial encroachment along the Right of Way (ROW) of National Highways is illegal and prohibited under the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002.
Meanwhile, the administration has directed the Excise Department to conduct raids following reports of illegal resale of liquor along the stretch, particularly at 4th Mile and 7th Mile.
Baranwal said three to four rounds of raids have already been conducted, during which cartons and empty bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) were seized.
