SHILLONG, OCT 14: Making it clear that footpaths cannot be encroached, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar on Wednesday said hawkers protesting relocation from Jail Road will have to shift to designated vending zones.
“Footpath doesn’t mean you can sleep there. It is a pedestrian path for people to walk, not for people to sit in the middle. It is not only about the vehicular area,” Dhar asserted while responding to a query on the argument that the area is not meant for vehicles
He said the government cannot allow roads to be blocked. “When it is a road, a person cannot sit. We as a government have to think about the people because if we don’t clear it, they will blame us,” he said.
Dhar said the drive is to make Shillong more liveable and is also in tune with the High Court’s call for a clean city.
“We want the city to be systematic, clean and beautiful. It should be a matter of pride for all residents. The High Court has also requested that the city should be clean,” he said.
Admitting that relocation causes initial hardship, the Deputy Chief Minister said business will stabilise.
“We are trying to give them a better place. Yes, some do not want to shift now. In the beginning it may affect livelihood, but slowly it will be fine,” he said.
He said he has held meetings with hawkers and sought their cooperation.
“I have met them and appealed to them to cooperate with the government. Sales may dip initially, but it will improve. They are not against the government, but naturally shifting impacts business at first,” Dhar said.
On creating awareness about the new hawker markets, Dhar said publicity will be done like earlier.
“When we shifted hawkers from Khyndailad to MUDA, I myself went to the market to let people know. We will do the same. The Chief Minister distributing cheques at Barik shows we are with the hawkers. We want them to survive, we fully support them,” he said.
Regarding issuing of Certificates of Vending, Dhar said issuance is continuous.
“Those who got COV have moved. Those who haven’t, we are processing as per norms. There are criteria and guidelines. The office will do the needful, but we will accommodate all as far as possible,” he said.
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