By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 31: The state government on Wednesday asserted that the relocation plan for hawkers at Khyndai Lad, previously discussed, will be reaffirmed and completed by August 15.
“We will ensure that whatever relocation plan that was discussed in the past will be suitably reaffirmed. We should be able to see this through within the next couple of weeks,” said Tourism Minister, Paul Lyngdoh, while speaking to reporters here.
“By August 15, we will be able to see it through, but I will again seek the final word from the Deputy chief minister in charge of the Urban Affairs department because it is under the minister’s concern,” Lyngdoh added.
It is pertinent to note that the state government is in the final stages of relocating and rehabilitating around 200 hawkers from the Khyndai Lad area.
Lyngdoh had earlier stated that the rehabilitation would be completed by June for the 200 hawkers currently operating in the Khyndai Lad zone.
He had also informed that the government has worked out the vending zones with the Shillong Municipality Board, with the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority supporting the initiative.
The hawkers are expected to be relocated to designated shopping areas within the MUDA complex and at Khyndai Lad.
Asked if the hawkers are cooperating with the authorities, Lyngdoh had said, “We have completed the entire process right from notifying, identifying, and registering these vendors. We are very close to finishing this exercise, and what remains to be done is the physical rehabilitation in the Khyndai Lad area but away from the streets, roads, and footpaths.”