Ima Keithel vendors stall construction work
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 10: Asserting that the ongoing construction work of New Market and Laxmi Market should be put on hold until and unless construction work of the Ima Keithel (Purana Market) is initiated, women vendors of Ima Keithel has stalled the construction work today.

At about 10 am today, women vendors of Ima Keithel gathered together and shouted various slogans demanding initiation of the construction of Ima Keithel and to complete construction works of the New Market, Laxmi Market and Ima Keithel at the same time.

The spot earmarked for the women's market but where no work has been taken up till date

Demanding that construction work of the New Market and Laxmi Market should be put on hold until and unless construction work of Purana Market is initiated, the women vendors forced the workers to stop construction of the two markets.

One Indumukhi, a vendor at Purana Market recalled that the former market shed was demolished to build a new one five years back.

Even as the Chief Minister and the Works Minister have been approached repeatedly to start construction of Purana Market, instead of taking up the construction work, a pond has been dug out at the site.

The site has also become a garbage pit, she lamented.

Stating that the Purana Market was the oldest market shed, the women vendors pointed out that the deities of Khwairamband Bazar exist at Purana Market.

They decried the act of messing up and defiling the area with human excreta and other wastes.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the Simplex Projects Limited informed that the ongoing construction of New market and Laxmi Market has been forcibly stopped by a group of women vendors for not starting construction work of the Ima Keithel (Purana Market).

Even as the technical problem to start work of Purana Market was narrated to the vendors, it went to deaf ears.

The construction of the two markets��New Market and Laxmi Market is running under NBCC (National Building Construction Company) which has no relation to starting work of the Purana market.

Stating that the company is becoming a victim of every local issues and problems, it cautioned that once the labour force run away due to no work, re-mobilisation of new labour force will take time and it will further delay the completion schedule of the two markets.