Temporary market for street vendors only: Khemchand
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 22 2022:
While asserting that temporary market shed of Khwairamband Keithel was constructed for street vendors, MAHUD minister Y Khemchand has appealed to genuine street vendors to continue their trading activities at the temporary market only.
Talking to media persons about the ongoing tussle among street vendors for vending space at temporary market on Saturday, Y Khemchand said that the street vendors' issue is a long standing one and temporary market of Khwairamband Keithel had been kept reserved for street vendors as per advice of the chief minister to solve the problem.
However, tussle among street vendors for vending space at the market intensified.
To solve this problem, application was invited from street vendors and more than 6,000 applied for vending space at the temporary market.
However, a joint survey conducted with the knowledge of the chief minister by SP Imphal West, transport director and officials of MAHUD and IMC for a month found only 1,400 genuine street vendors against 6,000 street vendors who applied for vending slots.
This shows that some people are posing as street vendors and trying to snatch rights of street vendors for personal benefit, Khemchand opined and appealed to genuine street vendors to continue their trading activities at the temporary market in a cordial manner.
According to Y Khemchand, government wants to solve problems of street vendors and keep Imphal city neat and clean ahead of Sangai Festival.
He also clarified that there is no need to allot plot number or vending space for street vendors and they must occupy vending space purely on first come first serve basis.
A vendor cannot permanently occupy a particular vending space, he maintained.
Earlier in the morning, the MAHUD minister inspected Khwairamband Keithel area and temporary market shed at Lamphel.