Shillong, Aug 14: The government will soon be completing the process of rehabilitating over 200 hawkers and street vendors from Khyndailad and turning it into a ‘pedestrian zone’ and a ‘music hub’.
Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh, on Tuesday, said the process has already begun and will be completed as soon as details of various trades have been verified.
The rehabilitation project does not allow 3 or 4 persons in the same business to be in one place, he said adding that they also have to consider the safety regulations as there are some who use energy sources such as fire. ‘All those are being worked on,” he said.
“Our target was (to complete the process by) August 15 but due to identification of trades and the names of individuals, this has taken more time than expected,” Lyngdoh said while adding that the government would soon make a fresh announcement.
Stating that the issue is being resolved, Lyngdoh said, “It will not take much more time because we would like to do it in a way where even the hawkers feel involved and that we are doing things in their interest as well. As I told you, we are enhancing facilities for their welfare including proper vending zones.”
The minister also said he met the CEO of SMB who updated him on the situation and that vending zones have been identified and allotment has been specified for different types of trade.
Lyngdoh also said that the initiative, which is a joint venture between the Urban Affairs and the Tourism department, is inching toward closing this issue.
