Amid the criticism levelled at the proposed relocation of hawkers and street vendors from Laitumkhrah Main Road to Lady Veronica Lane, local MLA and cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh today expressed sternness, ostensibly for the greater good.
The plan to move 89 hawkers from a section of the Main Road to the adjacent lane came under fire recently, with particular focus on the impact on disabled persons who attend special schools in the lane.
Lyngdoh, while stating that it is impossible to please everybody, said, “There’s no need for anyone to instigate anyone on the street to speak ill about me. It doesn’t matter what you say, you can say whatever you want but order is what I’m looking for.”
The number of hawkers is increasing every day and it has become “next to impossible” to accommodate them on the Laitumkhrah Main Road, she added.
Under the state and national vendor policies, specific areas should be given over to hawkers, while others must be maintained as ‘No Vendor Zones’. “It’s not me who is saying that. It’s an act that is saying it,” Lyngdoh stated. “If I can do it as an MLA of this constituency who is facing the brunt of this, I will not fear. And I will not deviate from my point – we need to sort this problem out.”
A group of citizens to be affected by the relocation plan met Lyngdoh on Monday.
“I spoke to the residents who came and I hope that we will be able to sit across the table and discuss this matter with the right authorities. I am an MLA who is merely looking for a way out of this very difficult situation for citizens of the state, particularly anyone who comes to Laitumkhrah,” she added.
