Shillong, July 1: MDA government spokesperson and cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh has slammed the leaders of the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) for allegedly having some hidden agenda to delay the relocation of hawkers and street vendors to the MUDA’s upper floor parking lot, which has been declared as a vending zone.

Lyngdoh made the statement in response to the protest staged by the MGSPHSVA against what they alleged to be an illegal eviction drive against hawkers and street vendors at Khyndailad area.

“Therefore, there seems to be other hidden agenda by some of the leaders. I will not blame all the hawkers but apparently a few leaders would not like this issue to be resolved. But again, let me reiterate here that the government is committed to ensure the rule of law,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

He warned that the government will not allow the rule of law to be compromised, citing the recent march by hawkers in front of the main secretariat, which he claimed was in violation of section 163 of the BNS.

Lyngdoh said that the government has been lenient by extending the deadline for relocation of hawkers and street vendors to July 22 and has offered incentives to those who agree to relocate.

“The government has earmarked a sanction amount of Rs 10,000 per vendor as shifting allowance and will provide monthly financial support of Rs 2000 per vendor for five months to help incentivize them to shift to the new vending zones.”

Lyngdoh emphasized that the government is on the right track and has been responsive and responsible in its approach to decongest Shillong and pedestrianize certain areas.

He also highlighted the importance of equal rights for all road users, including motorists, pedestrians, and vendors, and reiterated that the government will not deny the rights of one group to benefit another.

“I have been repeating myself in saying that all road users have equal rights and my rights as a vendor should not mean a denial of the rights of the other road users. We have motorists, who are also road users. We have pedestrians, who are also road users. We cannot deny their right to the use of the same space only to benefit only a section of the road users.”

The minister informed that discussions have taken place over the course of the last one year regarding the town vending committee and that the meetings have been minutely recorded with all parties agreeing to the terms and conditions.

“This is nothing that the government did in the flash of a moment. We have been in constant touch with all the vendors and even their top leaders have also attended these various meetings held from time to time,” he said adding “The meetings have been minutely recorded and they have agreed to the terms and conditions. If you can approach the CEO of the SMB, he will furnish all the details of the discussions of the meeting of the TVC.”

Regarding the recent eviction drive, Lyngdoh said that it was unfortunate and that the officers had made it clear that only those possessing certificates of vending (CoV) will be allowed to carry on their trade.

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