Commercial activities continue to be affected
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, May 04 2011:
Commercial activities in the state capital Imphal have been severely affected as Manipur State government's decision to clean up illegal encroachment in the State capital has drawn flaks and dissent from vendors, triggering businesses to close shops until their interests are being taken into consideration.
A recent directive of the State government activated a drive since a couple of days ago in the central business districts of Imphal, particularly Paona Bazar and Thangal Bazar, to clear the pavements of encroachment by shopowners and vendors.
This has triggered a mass dissent from vendors in the Paona Bazar and Thangal Bazar stretches to down their shutter in protest against the "arbitrary" drive of the government without prior notification.
The distraught shopkeepers have maintained that they will remained in dissent mode until the government and Imphal Municipality Council (IMC) have arrived at an understanding with the shopkeepers on the issue.
Footfalls in and around Kwairamband market area was today greatly reduced with shoppers not allowed to park their vehicles on the roads which were otherwise always chock a block with traffic.
With women pavement vendors now being moved to ply their wares from an open facility in Lamphel, the streets and pavements in and around the market wore a different and rather deserted look today.
Personnel of State police are now seen constantly patrolling the business area in an attempt to enforce the government's directive.
While acknowledging all the benefits of clearing traffic logjam in the market area, the government seemed unconcerned about losses incurred on businesses in these markets.
Shopkeepers claimed that their daily businesses have decreased by about 70 percent with the new restriction on traffic and parking in these areas.
Because parking in front of the shops are now restricted, shoppers have refused to come to shop, said a shopkeeper.
The shops that lined the length and breadth of Thangal Bazar have been remaining shut since yesterday indefinitely in showing dissent against the government's recent decision on encroachment and parking restriction.
A shopkeeper from Paona Bazar shares similar distress saying that his profits have nosedived from Rs 5000 per day to a paltry Rs 2000.The cases of many of his neighboring shops were no different with the shutters to their shops closed, suggesting that they are out of business.
In the meanwhile, rallying women vendors, under the aegis of All Manipur Street Vendors' Association, who have been relocated to an open facility in Lamphel, were prevented by the police to approach Raj Bhavan to submit a memorandum to the chief minister seeking for the revocation of their relocation to Lamphel.