Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 26:
Two women sustained injuries during a fight that broke out today between the women vendors of Laxmi Bazar and Purana Bazar over allotment of plots in the temporary market shed.
The two women who have been hospitalised are identified as Rabika (45), a woman vendor of Laxmi Bazar and Keinya (66) of Purana Bazar.
The scuffle took place after PDA Chairman K Ranjit Singh, Industries Minister L Mangi and other top Government officials who came to investigate the temporary market shed to resolve the matter failed to bring an amicable solution with the infuriated women.
The PDA Chairman and the Industries Minister along with the officials visited the market shed to look into the complaints raised by some women vendors of Shed no 1 and 2 of Purana Bazar against allotment of plots to women vendors of Shed no 26 and 27 by forgoing their rights.
Clarifying on the matter, the PDA Chairman said the women vendors of Shed no 26 and 27 were allowed to occupy Shed no.1 and 2 in the temporary market as per an agreement with the women vendors of Purana Bazar who reasoned that normally those who sell ornaments and other items essential for religious purposes should be offered the front portion of the market.
The PDA Chairman further informed that there are enough plots for all the license holder vendors in the temporary market shed.
The problem came about after some of the women vendors of Purana Bazar crossed over to the plots allotted to women vendors of Laxmi Bazar, the PDA Chairman said.
Revenue Officer of Imphal Municipalities M Thambalmacha also tried to convince the agitating women vendors that there are sufficient number of plots in the temporary market shed to accommodate all the 3901 license holders of the three market sheds of Khwairamband Bazar.
Inspite of all the efforts made by the Ministers and the official team to resolve the matter, the agitating women vendors stuck to their stand demand for allotting the plots �as per the norms� within 3/4 days even if it is required to close down the market for the said period.
They asserted that they would not accept any adjustment of plots and shifting them from one shed to another.
Meanwhile, Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Sinpham Amadi Saktam Kanba Lup has demanded that State Government and the Imphal Municipal Council to find out the root cause of the present impasse and asked to identify the genuine license holders.




