SHILLONG: The KHADC has started cracking the whip on erring shop owners in Shillong who are running their business without a trading licence from the district council.
On Thursday, the Trade department of KHADC sealed 37 shops at Iewduh. Their owners were running their establishments without having the required trading licence. The shops were sealed in a surprise inspection conducted by the enforcement branch of the Council on Thursday under the directive of the Executive Member in charge Trade Latiplang Kharkongor.
According to him, the Council had earlier served show cause notices returnable within one month and also closure notices 45 days in advance to shop owners who did not obtain a trading licence. “We have taken this drastic step after all these shops failed to respond to the notices issued by the Council,” Kharkongor said. He indicated that the Council would conduct similar inspections of othe establishments in the near future.
Informing that the closure notice on shops had been served after a gap of 20 years, Kharkongor said that a total of 980 shops in Iewduh were under the scanner of the KHADC. “We will also make such inspections soon in all the areas falling under the jurisdiction of the district council and such illegal setting up of businesses will not be allowed in the future,” he stated.
He further informed that the KHADC would bring certain amendments to the Trading by Non-Tribals Regulation Act to further strengthen it to protect the interest of local indigenous tribes and also stop issuing of fresh licences. Notices would be sent to the Syiems to stop issuing of no objection certificates.
