Rampant issuing of trading license decried

SHILLONG: All Meghalaya Contractor & Supplier Association (AMC&SA) has sounded the alarm over the rampant issuing of the trading license by the Khasi Autonomous District Council (KHADC) which has taken a negative toll on the local contractors and suppliers of the State.
In a statement issued here on Friday, AMC&SA general secretary BL Nongbri said that the Association had even met KHADC Executive Member in-charge of Trade Antonio War to discuss the issue.
“During the meeting, War had clarified that the Council is giving trading license to those non-tribals who participate in the tender for the contract work of any project. If they obtain the contract work, they would again have to apply for the trading license for that particular assignment,” Nongbri said.
He said that the KHADC EM in-charge of Trade also informed that the Council is mainly issuing trading license for setting up of a shop, hotel, warehouse, carriage contract, bonded, stockiest and so on.
“He (War) also clarified that the trading license that was issued for any particular assignment cannot be utilized for other purposes,” Nongbri said while quoting the KHADC EM in-charge of Trade.
He said that the Association urged the local contractors and suppliers to take note against individuals or any non-tribal entity for misusing the trading license by the Council even as requesting them to immediately inform the Association if they come across such cases.
Meanwhile, AMC&SA general secretary informed that the association would also write to the various State and Central Government departments to make it mandatory for people outside the State, who take part in any tender, should possess the trading license.
The Association also warned the contractors from outside to not take any private contracts while also stressing the members would soon carry out a drive to check the same.