Shillong, December 17: The current scenario involving the hawkers could have been well addressed by the government if the representatives of the vendors were included in the recently constituted Town Vending Committee to ensure smooth compliance with the court order, thereby enabling the committee to arrive at concrete solutions, as opposed to the current invitation for registering which opens up doors to create more vendors.
Government should undertake micro planning by identifying spaces that do not obstruct pedestrian traffic to accommodate such vendors whose wares do not require obstructive space but essentially caters to the public, which in turn will not deprive the pedestrians of basics and serve the vendors their livelihood.
The E K Mawlong led UDP government had secured transfer of defense land to civil authorities during it’s tenure for public usage which resulted in Parking Lots having come up in various parts of the city. One such area that was then under litigation, was the expansive area then popularly known as Bawri’s saw mill, next the present MUDA near District Council office Parking Lot. This space was then proposed to serve as a larger extension of the Parking Lot with provision for accommodating roadside vendors or hawkers.
Even the NGOs had earlier taken note of this space for providing solution to the problem of roadside hawking, and hence, government could expeditiously acquire the said space, after which, undoubtedly, the current hawking imbroglio will see some light at the end of the tunnel.
Similar exercise of identifying spaces in the other affected areas for setting up of such alternatives, will go a long way in amicably settling this long standing issue which is an issue of grave concern, considering the loss of livelihood on the one hand, and the question of safe and unobstructed pedestrian traffic on the other, said Mr Allantry Franklin Dkhar Vice President of the party UDP.
