SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) is contemplating to act against the huge numbers of non-tribal traders who have been selling vegetables at a makeshift market in violation of the conditions of the trading license.
The CEM Titos Chyne informed that the Council conducted a checking on Monday at the Parking Lot in Garikhana and found that the non-tribals, who although possessed trading licenses, did not deal in the business specified in the license.
“Before the lockdown, they worked somewhere else and now they are selling vegetables at the parking lot which contravenes the Trading by NonTribals Regulation. The non-tribal traders cannot switch trade and cannot shift their place as well. They should stick to the trade as specified in the trading license”, he said.
When contacted, some of these traders confessed to have sold vegetables in the parking lot, but they pleaded that due to extreme economic hardship caused by prolonged lockdown of Iewduh, they had no option left.
Interestingly, he said that the traders received an NOC but refused to disclose the name of the person who issued it.
“We find that there are so many traders and we don’t know where such huge numbers of traders came from”, he said.
Chyne referred to the incident where the government termed the outsiders apprehended in South West Khasi Hills to be vegetable vendors for more than eight years. He maintained that whatever business they are in they should get a trading license from the Council.
“We have asked the Enforcement team of the Council to be prepared to check the documents of the people. Any violation will be dealt with strictly”, he said.
He said that checking will be conducted phase wise in the districts which fall under its jurisdiction.
Terming the department as sensitive and important, he said that officers of the department will go by the Act with regard to renewal of licenses.
The CEM has asked the traders, who have renewed their licenses, to approach the KHADC. The renewing of licenses will be issued if they have proper documents, and if they do not have proper documents, their licenses will be cancelled.
In reply to a question, Chyne pointed out that the Council would not issue any new licenses in case of trades which the locals are capable of carrying out.
Fresh licenses will be issued only in exceptional circumstances.
On the other hand, he said that there are no restrictions on the entry of people from outside the state in the border areas.
“Even the public representatives also complained that at border markets, the outsiders enjoy free movement. The local people there are not taking this too well as it will have an impact on their health”, he said.
Chyne said that he will write to the government about the entry of people from outside the state in the border areas.
It may be mentioned that interstate movement is still banned.
