SHILLONG: Members of Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR), Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) demanded for setting up the vendors’ open market at Sweepers’ Lane (Them Iew Mawlong) to run their business.
The two groups met the Deputy Chief Minister and the Chairman of the High Level Committee (HLC), Prestone Tynsong on Monday to offer suggestions to the HLC on the relocation of the settlers in Sweepers’ Lane. The general secretary of Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA), Shane Wahlang, said, “If there is a mixed population, then the area is not likely to face any problem of safety and security.
There should be space for hawkers.” TUR and the MGSPHSVA said the vendors market should have facilities of godown, crèche, toilets.
“There should not be hotels, shopping malls in the area which will benefit only a few people,” TUR member Angela Rangad said.
The two organisations demanded that the whole area should be declared as a legal vending zone as it is heritage and natural market. Asserting that there is not a need for parking spaces and flyovers, she said, “The only solution is to reduce the number of private vehicles and instead put up improved public transport system. And flyovers in a seismic zone like our state are not feasible but footbridge will serve a better purpose than flyover.”
Rangad pointed out that space is not a problem considering the close proximity of empty cantonment land.
