Street vendors defy eviction drive
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 19 2022:
As announced on Monday, IMC with the help of police conducted a massive drive to evict street vendors from Khwairamband Keithel area after 8am on Tuesday but the street vendors opposed IMC's new plan and turned down the arrangement for plying their wares at Lamphel super market.
As usual, scores of street vendors sold their products on roadsides in Imphal city area from early morning Tuesday.
At about 8arri, a team of IMC officials led by caretaker mayor L Lokeshwar and a large team of police told the street vendors to collect their products before 8am and continue trading at Lamphel super market.
However, most of the street vendors opposed IMC's drive thereby leading to heated arguments between them and IMC officials.
SP Imphal West Shivkanta too assessed the situation.
IMC caretaker mayor L Lokeswar told media persons on the sidelines of the drive that increasing traffic congestion and parking problem in Imphal city compelled IMC to launch the drive against street vendors as vending space for them have already been reserved at Lamphel super market.
He also said that street vendors will still be allowed to do their trading activities in Paona and Thangal bazars till 8 AM as usual but not after the specified time.
Expressing concern over parking of vehicles on roads in city area, the caretaker mayor said that owners will be informed to remove vehicles and if the vehicles were not removed, then they will be towed away by pick up van with the help of police.
Meanwhile, a street vendor strongly rejected the IMC's new plan and said that vending space provided by IMC for them at Lamphel super market will be not be feasible as Lamphel is not a business area.