Shillong, July 25: The HYC has demanded the KHADC trade department shut down the factory at Mawsmai after they detected that its trading license had expired in April 2024.
The HYC today met KHADC Executive Member in charge of Trade Gigur Myrthong after members of the HYC were challenged by a non-Khasi running a business at Mawsmai-Ribhoi.
Speaking to reporters HYC president said that they have information that the non-tribal businessman did not renew his trading license since March-April, if the District Council could not take action, the HYC threaten to put the KHADC under lock and key.
“When our members went to check the trading license from the non-tribal he showed our members the statement made by our Chief Minister Conrad Sangma who said that the public and NGOs have no right to check documents of the non-tribal,” he said.
Informing that after the incident at Mawsmai, the HYC has put the factory under lock and key, he said that yesterday the police of Ribhoi district broke the lock and the non-tribal has again started his business there.
Synrem said that this violates section 3 of trading by the non-tribal Regulation Act 1954 which clearly states that non-tribals wanting to run businesses in Khasi hills have to obtain a trading license from KHADC.
They have come to meet the EM trade to inquire if the council has issued a trading license to this person and it became clear that the TL of this factory has not renewed since April.
The question now is how can this person still run his business to date. We want the KHADC to show its authority as empowered by the Act section 7A that if a person or company violates various sections of the act the District Council has the power to shut down such company and cease all the materials till the TL is issued or renewed,” he stated.
He stressed that if the district cannot implement its act then it’s pointless to have the district council. He further informed that the EM has assured him to take action but asked for more time to study because the factory also has complications related to the ownership of land.
He further stated that the HYC is not bothered about the complication related to ownership of land but maintained that a non-tribal cannot run businesses without the TL.
“If we have to go and shut down the factory once again then it’s also better for us to come and shut down the district council if it cannot implement its law,” he said adding that they will follow up the matter after a week.
