Eviction plans make street vendors seethe in anger
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 29 2011:
Street vendors are seething over the government's decision to evict them from the streets in Imphal city even as CM, O Ibobi has said that the government move was related to address public grievances and not in the interest of any section of the society.
For the third day since the eruption of the protest against government move to evict street vendors by providing them space at the Lamphel shopping complex, hundreds of street vendors gathered at a place near Khwairamband Keithel for a protest march.
When the protest was set to kick off, a large police team arrived and convinced the street vendors not to carry out the rally on the streets.
When the protestors defied the police and planned to go ahead with their rally, police resorted to firing tear gas shells to a bid to quell the mob.
They fired several rounds of tear gas shells towards the protestors.
A woman protestor who sustained injury in the police action was immediately rushed to a hospital for immediate medical attention.
Terming the police action as violation of rights of the street vendors, Y Rita Devi, president of Khwairamband Bazar Vendors Nupi Yaipha Lup said that the proposed rally was a purely peaceful one and it was planned only to air their plight to the government.
They had wanted to submit a memorandum to the CM to review the government's decision of evicting them after May 2 .
They said they are against the government's decision to allot vendor spaces at Lamphel shopping complex in the outskirts of the city.
On the other hand, CM Ibobi Singh has said that the government's move was related with reducing traffic congestion in the city area.
It was taken in the interest of the general public.
The CM said it would be impossible to provide space for all vendors from all nine districts, asserting that vendors are targeting only Imphal bazar to sell their wares.
He asked is the government going to remove all installations like BT Park, Pologround, etc.
to accommodate the increasing number of vendors.
Ibobi was speaking as chief guest at a training programme of women Congress workers at Congress Bhavan today.
In order to reduce traffic congestion, the CM said that government had dismantled shops on both sides of the BT road, but even this has not prevented traffic congestion.
One of the most important factors for congestion is the occupation of footpaths by the vendors.
Such a large number of street vendors selling their wares on the footpaths are not seen in other states or countries.
The government has provided already provided seats for license holder street vendors.
The now protesting street vendors have surfaced after the licensed holders got their seats.
He said, the government is constrained to prevent street vendors occupying footpaths and other places which blocks the traffic.
Despite the foreseen problems, government is arranging a pace for them at Lamphel shopping complex.
The place could be converted into a vegetable market and there will no sort of customers as vegetable is daily essence.
Customers will throng at in the market, he believed.
Further speaking on the occasion, Ibobi said that government is planning to construct another multi-storey shopping complex at a right place within the Imphal area at an estimated cost of ' 70 crore.
A draft project proposal has been furnished to the Union ministry of Urban Development.
Once the complex is completed another 3000 vendors can be accommodated, he asserted.
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