IMC bans street vendors
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 08 2017: Imphal Municipal Corporation Mayor Soram Sunil today said that unlicensed street vendors will not be allowed to continue their business on any of the streets located in Khwairamband Keithel area.

Speaking to media persons, IMC Mayor Soram Sunil said, "Neither IMC nor MAHUD had officially directed the unlicensed street vendors to occupy the parking lot over the Naga nullah.

With an objective to keep the market area neat and tidy, unlicensed street vendors will no longer be allowed to sell goods on the road sides.

Any trade transaction between the buyers and sellers will be allowed only in the northern side of the temporary market shed." Expressing shock over the reported collection of money by some women from the street vendors for occupying the parking space over the Naga nullah, the Mayor said that the said place will never be utilized for selling goods.

Concrete slabs were constructed over the Naga nullah solely for parking vehicles.

"Keeping the surrounding clean is the responsibility of each and everyone of us.

Though IMC has been efficiently discharging the duties, it is the duty of the people as well to contribute their part in keeping the public places neat," the Mayor added.

Imphal Muncipal Council Ward No 3 Councillor N Nutanchandra, while speaking to mediapersons at his residence, has also said that the State Government did not issue any order to accomodate the street vendors over the Naga nullah.

On the other hand, Kuki Students' Organisation today said that it takes strong exception to the plight of the tribal women vendors who are allegedly subjected to unimaginable hardships by the State Government.

The tribal women vendors are the registered members of Haokeithel Tribal Women's Welfare Association and were given a place at Haokeithel to sell vegetables and were again forcefully evacuated to the temporary market at Khwairamband Keithel by the authority concerned.

A week ago, these women vendors were asked to vacate the temporary market, KSO said in a statement.

Stating that other women vendors are allowed to occupy some areas at Nagamapal, KSO said that tribal women vendors are prevented from occupying any place in the market area.

The State Government should immediately take up steps to rehabilitate the tribal women vendors at a suitable place in the market area, KSO added.

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