SHILLONG: The attempt to restore the lost glory of the oldest traditional market of the North East (Iewduh), seems to be just a temporary endeavour.
A visit to Iewduh revealed that the various resolutions adopted by the previous Executive Committee of the KHADC under the leadership of Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit to improve the general standards and surroundings of the market have now been abandoned with his exit.
Some of the resolutions adopted in the public meeting held at the entrance point to Iewduh on August 12 last year included developing a few areas in the market, including an area occupied by tomato sellers, identifying more places for vendors who sell wholesale goods, maintaining cleanliness in the market, including construction of a few more public latrines and proper collection and dumping of waste.
The other resolutions include not allowing people to convert shops into residence and that stalls or restaurants involved in selling illicit liquor within the market would be closed down, steps would be taken to decongest the market including removal of old and damaged water pipes of Shillong Municipal Board among many others
Today the situation of Iewduh is decrepit. The fish market is so congested that people can hardly find a place to stand and buy their fish. The porters trample on their feet and carelessly pull their baskets of fish without caring if they are hurting the people
The local vendors and shopkeepers during an interaction on Wednesday blamed the office of Syiem of Mylliem for the deterioration in the overall surrounding of the market.
Despite collecting taxes and donations from them the Syiem of Mylliem is doing nothing to improve the general standards of the market informed a fish vendor who was losing her clientele because there is no space for them to stand on without being rudely pushed.
When contacted, KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum on Thursday said that he had issued a directive about four days back to the Hima Mylliem to take serious measures over the maintenance of Iewduh including the improvement of the infrastructures like the footpath and also on its cleanliness.
He had also suggested to the Syiem of Mylliem to convene a meeting of the shopkeepers, vendors and traders operating in Iewduh and to issue a clear cut directive on the need to maintain the general standards and cleanliness of the market.
“I have also suggested that penalties should be imposed against people who violate the directive,” Nongrum said.
“The past glory of the market will have to be restored at any cost even though the Council has no direct control over the market,” KHADC CEM said while adding that it is painful to see that the market at present as it looks like a garbage dump.
Despite several attempts, the Myntri of Hima Mylliem who is in charge of Iewduh Kephas Langstieh could not contacted since his mobile was switched off.