SHILLONG: The KHADC Executive Member (EM) in charge of Trade, Paul Lyngdoh, said on Thursday altogether 261 trading licences were issued in 2018-19.
Paul was replying to a query posed by Congress MDC Ronnie V Lyngdoh during the question hour on the last day of the council’s budget session.
Paul said the previous executive committee had issued 167 licences in East Khasi Hills, including 14 in Iewduh, 78 in Ri Bhoi, two in West Khasi Hills and 14 in South West Khasi Hills.
However, Ronnie raised concerns saying the number of licences issued in a year “is a comparatively high number” and pointed out that the Trading by Non-Tribals Regulation Act is a shield to protect the indigenous people from being overwhelmed by outsiders.
Recalling that Paul is a former leader of the Khasi Students’ Union that has often raised issues pertaining to the indigenous people, Ronnie said tribals should be given more preference over non-tribals.
Referring to Iewduh, Ronnie said it was supposed to be a trading place for indigenous people and spoke about preventing rampant issue of licences to non-tribals.
He added that the issuing of trading licences should be limited as far as possible, except for the kind of trade that locals are unable to take up.
Paul informed that the Trade Department held a meeting to come up with stringent licensing policy to ensure improved revenue generation and voiced his concerns regarding the license fee which he stated is ‘very less’ and therefore, attracts outsiders to set up trade in the city.
“A new policy will have to be adopted which will be very stringent and at the same time encourage the indigenous people,” Paul said.
Congress MDC Gabriel Wahlang asked about the steps taken with regard to the mushrooming of a number of shops to which Paul replied by saying, “It is not just a strong step but a very strong one.”
Maintaining a firm stand, Paul said that the next approach will be to weed out illegal and unlicensed trade.
On the other hand, Congress MDC Grace Mary Kharpuri asked about organisations accompanying the enforcement wing of the KHADC to which Paul replied by stating that the enforcement wing of the KHADC inspects the site based on the information provided by the organisations.
Unanswered Queries
Earlier, Ronnie showed his disgust regarding the unanswered queries set by the opposition members and accused the Executive Committee of the KHADC of attempting to conceal the matter.
Ronnie stood up after the first question during the question hour of the Budget session and pointed out that the opposition has submitted a total of 20-21 questions out of which only 12 were answered.
He asserted that the Executive Committee (EC) did not take the queries raised by the opposition seriously and urged the CEM and Deputy CEM to look into the matter.
However, KHADC chairman, PN Syiem, said that 60 per cent of the questions were answered but maintained that the replies of the EC should be maximized.
