Shillong, Oct 13: Will roadside vendors in Khyndai Lad here comply with the decision of the State government to relocate them to authorized vending zones?
It may be noted that the State government has decided to carry out the relocation process of street vendors from Khyndai Lad, popularly known as Police Bazar, in two phases by mid-November.
Recently, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh had said that under the first phase, permits will be issued to around 250 vendors of Khyndai Lad to carry out their trade at a new spot designated by the State government.
According to him, the State government has identified three locations for shifting the vendors.
Lyngdoh also informed that the second phase of the relocation process will cover Laitumkhrah.
However, recently, roadside vendors from Khyndai Lad have expressed strong disagreement with the move to shift them to the new site at MUDA shopping complex.
The government stated that relocating of street vendors to designated areas would reduce congestion and improve traffic flow, making it safer and convenient for movement of pedestrians and vehicles.
On October 1, the Meghalaya High Court had expressed its displeasure over the delay by the State government to shift the street vendors in the city.
During hearing of a PIL, the division bench of Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said that the matter is still pending without any action by the State government.
The High Court also stated that despite the tentative timeline for the relocation process having been spelt out by the government, the matter was not adhered to and the issue is hanging fire.
“As the matter is of extreme importance and the issue is hanging fire as can be seen from the earlier orders passed by this court, especially the order dated May 14, 2024, where even a tentative timeline for the process had been spelt out but not adhered to, and as the matter appears to be at a stalemate, this court deems it fit to direct the petitioners and the State respondents in both these connected matters to collate the orders passed earlier by this court and the other events with regard to matter dealing with the vendors in various areas in Shillong,” the High Court said.
The court also ordered that compilation of the orders and the notes should be filed before the division bench at the hearing to be held on October 28 after which further orders will follow.
