Imphal, April 20: Following an agreement with three different groups of Khwairamband Keithel women vendor bodies yesterday, the shifting process to the temporary market sheds began this morning amid chaotic scene initially.

Women vendors started shifting to the temporary market sheds constructed at the previous complex of Old District Hospital from around 5.30 am today.

Chaos reigned during the early part of the shifting as roadside women vendors too demanded that licences be issued to them to enable them conduct business at the temporary sheds.

The roadside women vendors who started to occupy the eastern side of the new market premise were, however, evicted by police personnel pressed into service to avert unwanted development.

Planning and Development Authority (PDA) Chairman K Ranjit along with Manitron Chairman Bijoy Koijam were present during the shifting process from early morning itself.

The womenfolk first shifted the Keithel Lairembi (market Goddess) before they entered the new site where IMC officials and personnel assisted the women vendors in settling down at their allotted slots in the temporary market sheds.

Interacting with some newspersons, K Ranjit acknowledged difficulties faced by the vendors in shifting to the site but expressed confidence of eradicating their problems through expeditious completion of the multi-storeyed new buildings construction at the three market places of Khwairamband Keithel.

He also fervently appealed to the women folk to bear the hardships for some time.

The women vendors on their side desired proper electrification, makeshift medical care centre and widening of the western entrance.

Construction of the new multi-storeyed market complexes would begin soon after other kiosks dotting the historic market place is completed, said press source while conveying that National Building Construction Corporation had prepared to begin the construction.

As part of the construction formalities a 70 feet deep hole had been dug up for soil testing the earth samples of which had already been sent for checking soil composition to determine its capability/stability of withstanding enhanced building size.

The Union Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation had also earmarked requisite fund some 2 years back, added the source.

Separate meetings convened by the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh yesterday with women vendors yesterday had paved the way for transition of vendors from the historic market venue to the temporary shed at the former Old District Hospital.

The meeting held with three women bodies separately could also subdue controversy surrounding construction of the proposed multi-storeyed market complex at Khwairamband.

The Govt side was represented by the PDA Chairman, Assistant Secretary K Gyaneshwore and Associate Planner of Town Planning Gitkumar Singh.

The deliberation began with members of the Khwairamband Keithel Semgat Sagatpa Lup where agreement was sealed on five conditions.

The agreement, detailed a source, pertains to construction of only ground and first floors; provision of amenities like bathrooms, toilet, hotel and other public facilities on the 1st floor; reservation of slots for women vendors only; exemption of deposit money/levying of necessary taxes; and reservation of slots for IMC license holders.

Second meeting included representatives of the Nupi Keithel Sinpham Amasung Saktam Kanba Lup where two more agreements were reached besides the above five.

The new resolutions prohibit construction/allotment of shopping kiosks at the new (Khwairamband) market and completion of construction within two years at the latest.

In the meeting with members of Khwairamband Nupi Keithel an eighth condition was insisted upon by the womenfolk related to inclusion of office room accommodations for the market�s women bodies.

After the extensive meeting that stretched till 7 in the evening consensus was reached on shifting at the temporary market sheds so as to facilitate dismantling of the old structures in Purana Bazar, Luxmi Bazar and Ima keithel in order to renovate/reconstruct modern market complexes.

Seven days period had been agreed upon for completion of the whole shifting procedures.

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