Shillong: The Meghalaya government will relocate hawkers from Laitumkhrah by August 17 in compliance with a court order as part of its ongoing drive to regulate street vending in Shillong, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar said on Monday. He said notices had already been served to the hawkers and that the administration was holding discussions with them to ensure a smooth and amicable relocation process. Expressing confidence that the exercise was progressing as planned, Dhar said officials were in constant dialogue with the vendors.
“It will be very soon. We have served them notices. They should be shifted by August 17. There is also a court order,” Dhar told reporters.
Dhar said the government had identified two alternative locations for the Laitumkhrah hawkers—one at the Dhankheti parking lot and another at a private bungalow premises—and assured that any shortcomings at the new sites would be addressed to ensure the vendors were accommodated satisfactorily.
“We have identified two places — one in the Dhankheti parking lot and the other in private bungalow premises. It is actually a good place for them. If there are lapses here and there, or if it is not up to the mark as they expected, we will work to make them happy,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the relocation drive would continue across Shillong in a phased manner. He said hawkers from Jail Road had already been shifted to Polo and in front of the SBI branch, while the next phase would cover Motphran and GS Road. He added that a site near the Iewduh parking lot had been identified for relocating hawkers from GS Road.
“The same applies for Motphran. We have already done this in Jail Road. We have relocated them to Polo and in front of SBI. Next, we will discuss Motphran and GS Road. It will be done in a phased manner. For GS Road too, we have identified a place near the Iewduh parking lot for relocation,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Meghalaya to Relocate Laitumkhrah Hawkers by August 17
