Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 06 2010:
Shifting of vendors to the newly constructed multi-storey women's markets started today 24 days after being inaugurated by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on November 12 .
The shifting of the vendors was done under strict security measures as there was likelihood of violence among the women vendors in selecting their seats.
A total of 60 women police constable assisted by police commando personnel guarded the market-shed where seats were allocated to the vendors today.
A total of 1727 vendors were shifted to 28 market-lots after verification of their licenses issued by the Imphal Municipality.
Video coverage was given to each vendor as they occupied seats allotted to them by the officials of the IMC.
PDA chairman, MLA N Loken, IMC special administrative officer W Baktaraj were also present while allocating seats to the verified vendors.
According to them, the verification of licenses and allocation of seats may take at least three weeks.
Observing that the seats allocated to the vendors were too close to each other, L Mema secretary of the Manipur Keithel Nupi Marup expressed her desired to make certain adjustments to avoid congestion.
She suggested a totally different form in the mode of seat allocation.
The space of each lots is very small.
It has no place for keeping the wares of the vendors, she said.
Baktaraj acquiesced to the complaint of Mema, said that he will put up the matter to the government and look into what can be done to solve the problem.
Baktaraj also said that after the completion of shifting at market No.1, verification of licenses and allocation of lots to the remaining two sheds will be taken up.
The allocations of lots were done based on the occupancy of lots by license holders in the erstwhile markets, he added.
Mention may be made that the three multi-storey women's markets were inaugurated by UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi on November 12 during her brief visit in the state.