Shillong, July 2: Concerned over its prolonged efforts for relocation of hawkers facing a major hurdle due to protests by the latter, the state government has sought the hawkers’ cooperation in the process and appealed to them to relocate to the designated vending zone by July 22.
“I have full confidence that they will cooperate with the government and relocate to designated areas by the July 22 deadline,” deputy chief minister in-charge Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar told reporters on Wednesday.
He, however, warned that law will take its own course if they don’t agree to cooperate with the government’s plan and that the government is determined to implement the High Court order seeking free space for traffic and pedestrians in the city.
Dhar also clarified that government is not evicting the hawkers, but rather providing them with alternative spaces, such as MUDA complex, which is suitable for commercial purposes.
The objective of the relocation drive for hawkers is aimed at benefiting them and keeping the city neat and clean, he said.
“All of us want our city to be neat and clean. We have to respect the pedestrians and other road users,” he added.
Denying that the decision on location of the designated vending zone at upper floor of MUDA parking lot was arbitrary, the deputy chief minister referred to meetings held with the hawkers and that their preference for location with commercial viability was taken into consideration.
“…we are not throwing our people. We are giving them a good place in MUDA complex, which is good for commercial purposes…,” he said.
On the fate of hawkers without a Certificate of Vending (CoV), Dhar said the government will address the issue in due course.
Asserting the government’s commitment to resolve the issue, he mentioned that the government, on the hawkers’ request, had de-notified the ground floor of MUDA complex as vending zone and notified again the first floor for the purpose.
Relocation in hawkers’ interest: Dy CM
Meanwhile, the deputy chief minister asserted that the government’s decision to relocate the hawkers at Khyndailad was taken in the interest of the hawkers.
He also mentioned about the financial support provide to the hawkers for relocation to the ‘vending zone’ prepared by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) on the upper floor of MUDA parking lot in the commercial hub of the capital city.
The hawkers will receive a shifting allowance of Rs 10,000 and an additional Rs 2,000 per month for five months after their relocation.
Expressing surprise over the protest staged by hawkers against the proposed relocation, he said, “It is not that we wanted to victimise the hawkers… You will not find a government which is really thinking seriously about the interest of the hawkers.”
Tynsong appealed to the hawkers to cooperate with the Town Vending Committee and bring their issues to the table for discussion.
“The government understands the livelihood of hawkers and is committed to supporting them,” he said.
The government will strictly implement the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act in this regard, he added.
