DPR sent to Delhi for permanent market shed at Tombisana HS
CM assures covered temporary market shed at Lamphel
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 19 2013: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has pledged to take all possible steps to construct a roofed temporary market complex at Lamphel Super Market, in front of Shankar Talkies cinema hall.

As the Minister in charge of MAHUD, the Chief Minister commented on the temporary market development plan of the Government in response to a query from State Trinamool Congress legislature wing leader Dr I Ibohalbi in today's session of the ongoing Assembly.

Dr Ibohalbi expressed serious concern that inspite of many street vendors struggling to sustain livelihood on the streets of uripok and Nagamapal areas the Government has been remaining indifferent to their suffering.

Replying to the Trinamool legislator's call attention motion, Ibobi noted that apart from creating traffic problems, presence of street vendors at the busy commercial areas has been one of the chief factors for random piling of wastes.

File pic of women vendors hawking their goods at the pavement

While revealing that a detailed project report (DPR) has been sent to the Government of India for development of a permanent market complex at the erstwhile Tombisana High School campus to accommodate street vendors, the CM reiterated that till the Centre approves the proposal, necessary measures would be undertaken to construct the temporary market complex at Lamphel, including roof-top cover to protect the traders from harsh elements.

It is pertinent to mention here that on November 12, 2010 speaking at a public function in Kangla, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had assured to provide a Rs 72 crore package for construction of a new market complex that could accommodate 3000 traders.

Sonia Gandhi gave the assurance during her speech after the formal inauguration of the three newly constructed market complexes (Ima Keithel) at the historic Khwairamband Keithel.

Among others, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Union Minister of State for Tourism Kumari seilja were also in the Central delegation that came for the market inauguration.

Speaking further, the CM informed the house that talks are underway with representatives of Ima Keithel to utilise the underground sections of the market complexes as parking slots so that customers do not face parking problems.

Revealing that license holders of the Ima Keithels have rejected Government proposals to allow streets vendors ply their trades at the verandah/fringe on the ground that the formers' business would be affected, Ibobi conceded that the issue of street vendors has been a headache for the Government as an earlier arrangement to relocate the street vendors at Lamphel Super Market failed to materialise as the evicted traders cited lack of customers and resettled in and around the main market place.

Earlier in his presentation, Dr Ibohalbi urged the Government to arrange trading spots for the street vendors mostly coming from rural areas rather than forcibly evict them.

Expressing strong resentment against police as well as traffic personnel frequently targeting women street vendors and insisting that they pay them (cops) to avoid repercussion, the Oinam AC MLA suggested that construction of a market shed at Lamphel with overhead cover might solve the street vendor issue to a certain extent.

He also proposed that the Government peruse on feasibility of allowing street vendors to ply their trades from early morning till around 11 am.