Shillong, Nov 12: Shopkeepers in Shillong’s Ïewmawlong downed their shutters today in protest at the state government’s plans to relocate street vendors from Motphran to Them Ïewmawlong.
There are more than 500 shops in the area and the shopkeepers said that once the vendors are relocated to the bus stand, the buses will be moved to the parking lot at Anjalee, which will lead to a sharp fall in their revenue.
Speaking to reporters, Mike Pakyntein, a shop owner and spokesperson, said that an ongoing bus strike has seen retailers lose 70 per cent of their typical income, a forewarning of what would happen if the government goes through with its relocation plans. Pakyntein urged the state to consult all stakeholders before proceeding.
It is not just shopkeepers who are against the move, with porters who move heavy goods also expressing concern, as they will not be able to carry as much weight if the buses will be relocated to Anjalee, which is much farther away to Ïewduh and Police Bazar than Ïewmawlong is.
The protest comes against the backdrop of the ongoing dispute over vending and transport in the area.
The Shillong Municipal Board (SMB), in a notice dated October 16, had declared the entire stretch from GS Road, Motphran and Ïewmawlong as a ‘No Vending Zone’ and directed vendors holding certificates of vending to shift to the ground floor of the Ïewmawlong parking lot on or before November 25.
The Khasi Hills Bazar Bus Association has also opposed the government’s move to relocate market-bound buses from Mawlonghat to a parking area opposite Anjalee Cinema Hall.
The association, which says the Mawlonghat bus stand has served commuters, farmers and traders for more than five decades, has warned that its members will not vacate the existing bus stand despite the government directive, alleging that the decision was taken without adequate consultation.
Vendors’ associations have earlier termed the SMB notice illegal, saying Ïewduh, Ïewmawlong and Motphran are natural and heritage markets that cannot be displaced without proper arrangements, and have demanded its withdrawal.
