Uripok body decries construction of vendor sheds
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 31 2020:
The Uripok Apunba Lup (UAL) has decried construction of vendor sheds over footpath by the All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) in the anterior section of Cheirap Court complex in the name of cleaning and pruning the area.
Speaking to media persons at the office of Imphal Sporting Club, Khwai Brahmapur, UAL president Soram Tekendrajit said that drains running on either side of Uripok-Kangchup Road were clogged and the road got inundated every time there was rainfall but the drains were de-clogged a few months back at the initiative of UAL.
Notably, UAL comprises several local clubs located within Uripok Assembly Constituency.
Tekendrajit said that de-clogging of the northern drains has been completed.
After submitting a petition to the district administration concerned, dismantling of vendor sheds and other structures built on footpath over the southern drains was started so that the drains could be de-clogged.
As the dismantling of vendor sheds and other structures began, AMBA submitted a letter to the SDO Lamphel and it brought the dismantling work to a grinding halt.
A notification issued by Secretariat, MAHUD Department on January 13 this year gave permission for construction of temporary vendor sheds and other structures in the anterior section of Cheirap Court complex but no public road/footpath should be affected.
However, AMBA by misinterpreting the same notification, has been constructing vendor sheds after collecting money from vendors by encroaching upon footpaths, said the UAL president.
There is no objection from the side of UAL in any effort to keep the anterior section of Cheirap Court complex neat and clean, he said.
But the 40 vendor sheds being constructed encroach into footpath and this is not permitted by law, Tekendrajit asserted.
The area where the Cheirap Court stands belongs to the public, not to AMBA.
As such, one would like to ask if AMBA has any authority to collect money from vendors and allot them vendor sheds, he continued.
AMBA and UAL had held a meeting on the matter.
UAL also submitted a petition to the Imphal West DC on October 12 with an appeal to stop AMBA from constructing any structure over footpath, Tekendrajit said.
On the other hand, AMBA offered vendor seats to some key members of UAL, he alleged.
AMBA issued a notice on December 29 asking vendors who have deposited money for vendor seats to submit copies of their Aadhaar cards by January 3.As for vendors who have already submitted their Aadhaar cards, they may collect vendor licences and other documents from AMBA on or before January 15, said the notice.
It also said that vendors who do not possess vendor licences would not be allowed to run any shop or stall in the vicinity of the Court complex, Tekendrajit conveyed.
He remarked that such unauthorised and illegal activities were never expected from the AMBA.
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