The Chief Executive Member of the KHADC, Titosstarwell Chyne, today assured that strict action will be taken against non-Khasis who run their businesses without a trading licence from the council.
Chyne told reporters this after an eviction drive carried out the KHADC enforcement wing at Them Iewmawlong today along with the Executive Member in charge of markets, Grace Mary Kharbuli, EM in charge of trade, Rangkynsai Kharbuki and Syiem of Hima Mylliem, Ainam Manik Syiem.
Terming the illegal trading by non-Khasi street hawkers in Iewduh as an eyesore, Chyne said, “We will ensure that these people who did not apply for the trading licence but still run their businesses without it do not get the trading licence because they have already broken the law.”
He said that during the eviction drive it was found that most of the non-Khasi hawkers do not possess a trading license.
“I have directed my staff not to allow these hawkers to occupy the space again and to carry out the eviction drive from time to time. We have also detected some non-Khasi shops at Iewduh that do not have the trading licence and, after due process and show-cause notice, we will ensure that these shops are shut down,” the CEM said.
He also blamed the staff of the enforcement wing that took their duty lightly until now and assured that the executive committee will see that the Trading By-Non Tribals Regulation Act of 1972 is fully imposed.
Meanwhile, Chyne also expressed strong resentment at a local businessman, Paul Leong, who prevented the personnel of the enforcement wing from checking the trading licence of non-Khasis running their businesses from his building.
Leong had claimed that his building is in a disputed area between the KHADC and the Shillong Municipal Board and thus the former has no jurisdiction there. Chyne said that he will study this claim.
Meanwhile, the EC members today also inspected the construction of the building for the wholesale vegetable market at Iewduh.
Chyne said that according to the contractor he has assured that the building will be ready by May even as he assured that the KHADC will try to allot funds for construction of an additional floor for the vegetable market.
