SHILLONG, April 20: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Thursday surprise-inspected Iewduh only to find many non-tribal roadside hawkers operating there without trading licence.
The inspection was carried out by Chief Executive Member Titosstarwell Chyne along with Executive Member in-charge market Grace Mary Kharbuki, Executive Member in-charge Trade Rangkynsai Kharbuki, Syiem of Mylliem Ainam Sing Syiem, Myntris and personnel of the Enforcement Wing of the KHADC
Talking to reporters following the inspection, Chyne informed that he has directed the enforcement wing to evict all non-tribal roadside hawkers, who are illegally operating their business without procuring trading licence from the Council.
The KHADC CEM also informed that there are many non-tribal traders who own shops inside Iewduh and do not have trading licences.
“We are going to take action against the non-tribal traders who do not have the trading license,” he said.
He also expressed strong reservation over the attempt of one of the local businessmen, Paul Leong, to prevent the personnel of the Enforcement Wing from checking the trading licence of the non-tribal traders, who had shops in his building.
According to him, the KHADC has taken a serious note of the attempt of Leong to prevent the carrying out the inspection as mandated in the various provisions laid down under the Trading By-Non Tribals Regulation Act of 1972.
Meanwhile, he said that he is happy with the progress of the construction of the wholesale vegetable market.
According to him, the KHADC has allotted funds to the Syiem of Mylliem to construct the wholesale vegetable market.
Informing that they are planning to inaugurate the wholesale vegetable market in May, Chyne said, “We would be allocated another Rs 1 crore to construct another storey of the vegetable market.”
Meanwhilre, former MLA, Mohendro Rapsang has questioned the surprise inspection conducted by KHADC CEM Titosstarwell Chyne and Syiem of Mylliem Ainam Sing Syiem of Iewduh.
Rapsang, who is the former Myntri of Hima Mylliem, questioned if it was necessary for the top bosses who head the two institutions to go to the field to carry out the inspection by themselves. “My question is whether they have the staff of the Enforcement Wing and the Myntris to do all this work. Does it mean that they have incompetent people working under them?,” former MLA said.