Shillong, Oct 13: Several shops run by non-tribals in Khliehriat West were shut down on Tuesday by the Jaintia National Council (JNC) for allegedly operating without valid trading licences.
The inspection was conducted by the JNC in the presence of Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) officials under the provisions of the JHADC Trading by Non-Tribals Rules, 2015.
JNC CEC general secretary Wanshwa Suting said the drive was launched after the organisation observed that a large number of non-tribals were running businesses in East Jaintia Hills district without necessary documents.
He said the absence of valid licences and other required documents was contributing to revenue losses for the autonomous council.
During the inspection, several shops were found operating without trading licences and service documents, while some allegedly had no valid documents at all.
Suting said such unauthorised businesses affected local traders, particularly when non-tribal operators engaged in trades that could be undertaken by local residents.
The JNC also gave a week’s deadline to traders who had valid trading licences but lacked the required service documents to obtain them.
Following the inspection, the organisation ordered the closure of establishments found violating the rules and issued warnings to traders. JHADC officials also warned that strict action would be taken if such illegal trading was detected again.
