Amid mounting anticipation over the July 22 deadline for street vendors to vacate the Khyndailad area, Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Urban Affairs, Snaiwbhalang Dhar, on Wednesday clarified that the state’s current action is “not an eviction drive but an enforcement drive,” expressing confidence that hawkers will relocate to the designated vending zones within the stipulated timeframe.
“It is not an eviction drive but an enforcement drive,” Dhar asserted, adding, “I am having a full confidence that they will be cooperating with with the government and if not the law will take its own course simple.”
Responding to queries about the possibility of resistance from hawkers unwilling to vacate the prime commercial spaces, Dhar maintained, “The Government will do its own job, we are just to enforcement drive only to place and put our people in the right direction. Because we are trying our best from the government which is in line with the court order and all of us we want our state to be neat and clean in the right direction. Yes we have to respect padestrian, footpath for the people to move on the road.”
He further elaborated that the government is adopting a humane approach, adding, “So, we as a government we are trying to do in such a manner that we are not throwing out people we arel giving schemes and put them in good places. I don’t they are against it, slowly slowly they will be in line with us, that is my request.”
When asked once again if hawkers fail to comply with the deadline, Dhar reiterated, “I am having a full confidence that they will be cooperating with with the government and if not the law will take its own course simple.”
On the fate of vendors who do not possess a Certificate of Vending, the Deputy CM said, “We will see when the Time comes, let us move ahead with the first phase. Process will continue.” When asked how seriously the government is viewing the July 22 cut-off, he simply remarked, “You will see.”
As per data shared by the Urban Affairs Department on Tuesday, of the 1,400 vendors surveyed across 12 vending locations, 760 were found to be eligible.
In Khyndailad, 399 vendors were surveyed, of which 349 were deemed eligible. In the G.S. Road area, 205 vendors were surveyed, with 128 found eligible. At Motphran, 155 vendors were surveyed, and 32 were found eligible. In Iew Mawlong, out of 143 surveyed vendors, 66 were declared eligible. In Jail Road, also with 143 vendors surveyed, 99 were found eligible. In Laitumkhrah-Fire Brigade, 114 vendors were surveyed, but only 22 were eligible. An additional 8 vendors were surveyed in Fire Brigade, with none eligible. At Ward’s Lake, none of the 26 surveyed vendors were found eligible. In the Polo area, 37 vendors were surveyed, and 26 were declared eligible. At Barik, 55 vendors were surveyed, and 25 were found eligible. In Dhankheti, all 12 surveyed vendors were deemed ineligible. In Qualapatty, all 48 surveyed vendors were found eligible. In Wahthapbru, none of the 6 surveyed vendors were eligible. At Laban, only 2 of the 17 surveyed vendors were found eligible. In the Assembly area, one vendor was surveyed and found ineligible. At Governor’s House, 5 vendors were surveyed, with 2 deemed eligible. At Malki, none of the 12 surveyed vendors were found eligible. Similarly, at Lumshatsngi, all 4 vendors surveyed were ineligible. In Red Cross, 4 vendors were surveyed, and 2 were found eligible. Finally, all surveyed vendors in Umsohsun (2), Quinton Road (3), and Lachumiere (1) were found to be eligible.
As the relocation deadline approaches, all eyes are on Khyndailad, where the state government’s commitment to balancing legal enforcement with vendor welfare will face its real test.
