UDP bats for permanent closure of shops sans trading licenses

SHILLONG, March 12: The Opposition UDP on Tuesday suggested the Executive Committee (EC) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council to ensure that the shops that are found operating without trading licenses should be permanently closed down.
Referring to a recent drive carried out by the KHADC CEM Pyniaid Sing Syiem at Majai in Bholaganj Shella to check trading licenses, Leader of Opposition Titosstarwell Chyne said it was sending a wrong message as the shops, which were closed down on the day of inspection for failing to obtain trading licenses, were again found functional the next day.
While lauding the CEM and the Executive Members (EMs) for taking the initiative to conduct the checking of trading licenses, Chyne said the exercise carried out to check the trading license at Majai has affected the image of not only the CEM but also of the MDCs and the KHADC as a whole.
“We have become a laughing stock in the eyes of the public,” Chyne said, while taking part in the discussion on the second day of the ongoing Budget session of the KHADC.
According to him, the Executive Committee (EC) needs to ensure that the shops that were closed down should be permanently closed down.
In his reply, Deputy CEM Pynshngain N. Syiem assured that the Trade department of the KHADC will look into the matter and ensure that such a thing is not repeated.
“We will have to ensure that people should not take lightly the exercise carried out by the Council to check trading licenses,” Syiem said.