Imphal, Sep 03: Saying that the Khwairamband street vendors have been enduring numerous hardships and difficulties, the Khwairamband Keithel Street Vendors Welfare Union has appealed to individuals concerned and groups not to make any attempt to evict the street vendors.

Maintaining that the Khwairamband market is not only for a handful of individuals but for the whole State, a spokesman of the Union asserted that the street vendors would never leave their stalls.

For any untoward incident resulting from the attempts to drive out the street vendors, the State Government would be held responsible, he stated.

In connection with the prevailing situation, a meeting o the street vendors was also held today during which the Union appealed to all concerned not to disturb the street vendors.

Moreover, the street vendors resolved to stay at their places under any circumstance.

On the other hand, the Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Shinpham and Shaktam Kanba Lup and the Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Shemgat Shagatpa Lup Stone Bar Association has questioned the Imphal Municipal Council as to how the licences were issued to the vendors in the middle of the roads and streets.

Acknowledging that the Khwairamband market is for the whole State, it noted that there is no provision to provide stalls to every individual of the State.

Stating that the Lup has no objection to people coming from far off places selling their products at street corners, it however decried the occupation of every available space after the suspension of traffic on BT Road.

At first, some individuals occupied some space to sell goods in the streets and then others followed in large numbers taking advantage of no objection raised against them and later these street vendors would form their own association/welfare, observed the Lup while asking the IMC if it would be able to fulfil all the demands raised by such associations.

The Lup further demanded the authority concerned to rectify the malfunctioning of the IMC and to evict the street vendors which have occupied every available space so as to make way for commuters in and around Khwairamband keithel.

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