Pressure groups and rangbah shnongs today came out in protest against the administration for seeking no objection certificates from hawkers who have set up shops along the boundary wall of the Eastern Air Command headquarters in 7th Mile.
The Block Development Officer office had sent out letters to the hawkers about an inspection to be held today between the office, Air Force officials and the traditional heads and asked them to bring with them relevant documents and the NOC.
However, the FKJGP, Khasi Students Union and the rangbah shnongs were against this move stating that the locals are earning their livelihood from the place and questioned from where they will produce the NOC.
The Air Force Headquarter recently filed a complaint to the Office of Block Development Mylliem C&RD Block against the street hawkers who have set up their shops on the side of its boundary wall.
Irked by this, FKJGP vice president Kitboklang Nongphlang said that the EAC headquarters had already installed a high boundary and there would be no threat to it inside. “We want to send a message that they (EAC) should not interfere outside their wall as the people have also not interfered in what goes on inside its campus.”
He said the stretch falls under the PWD, which it has never had problems with the hawkers. “If anyone forcefully evicts our local hawkers we will stand against this,” he added.
