SHILLONG: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), state youth wing, has slammed Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) authority for its inaction to tackle illegal trade carried out by non-tribals, who do not possess trading license.
The president of KHNAM, state youth wing, Thomas Passah urged the KHADC for random inspection starting from Iewduh and to take punitive actions against those who do not possess license.
“If the KHADC does not do so within two weeks, then the KHADC should empower the KHNAM to conduct the inspection along with enforcement from the KHNAM,” Passah said in the memorandum to the KHADC CEM, HS Shylla.
“We have surveyed the market place and found that there are some non-tribals who possess only one trading license but has two shops, secondly, we found that more than 40 per cent of the non-tribals say they have sent their trading license for renewal,” he told reporters later.
The KHNAM also alleged that staff of District Council facilitates renewal of licenses.
Passah said, “The Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation 1954 should be implemented in letter and spirit. It is time we protect ourselves from people of the plains.”
He referred to claims that Executive Member (EM) Trade, Antonio War who was alleged to have said that KHADC only give its recommendations after the non-tribals get NOC from Dorbar Shnong.
“The NOC should be recommended by the Rangbah Shnong with the approval of the Dorbar Shnong and not only the headman alone should decide. We do not agree to such a statement by EM Trade. The final authority will be the District Council,” Passah said.
