Shops dismantled for shopping complex

SHILLONG, JUNE 28: Over 400 shops and business outlets in the 42 year-old Polo market were dismantled by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) during an eviction drive on Saturday to pave way for the construction of the new market complex, a project which is pending for the last three years.

SMB chief executive member (CEO) E Kharmalki told reporters, “We have conducted the eviction drive by dismantling all the shops following a court order issued in favour of the government on May this year.”

Kharmalki, however, said the government had also allotted a plot of land to rehabilitate the traders whose shops have been dismantled during the eviction drive on Saturday.

Amid tight security in and around the area to ensure that law and order problem does not arise out of the eviction drive, the dismantling started around 8 am in the presence of the CEO, Superintendent of Police (city) Vivek Syiem and other officials.

Apart from 20 go-downs, there are around 433 shops and stalls operating their businesses in the Polo market in  a land measuring approximately 47, 000 square feet.

According to Kharmalki, the dismantling was taken up to facilitate the construction of the Rs 21.41 crore new Polo market complex. He said, “The government could not start the construction of the project for more than three years following a petition filed by a group of aggrieved traders who opposed the eviction drive earlier.”

Meanwhile, some of the fish and vegetable vendors alleged that the SMB did not issue notices to many of the traders about the eviction drive.  “We strongly protest against the SMB for its failing to inform the traders,” M Wahlang, who claimed that she had not received any notice from the board.

Wahlang claimed that she was not aware until the time she  reached the market to open my stall and saw that the eviction drive already started. Like Wahlang, L Lyngdoh, K Nongrum and K Ryntathiang also said they were also not served any notices about the drive.

The vendors said, “We cannot accept this bulldozing attitude of the board. It should have issued the notices before the eviction drive so that could prepare  and find alternative source of livelihood.”

On this, Kharmalki however claimed that the SMB had already issued notices to the traders of the market on Thursday directing them to evacuate the place immediately.

Kharmalki also claimed that most of the traders have agreed to shift to the land allotted two years back by the government adding “We also understand the inconvenience will be there and we are trying not to bulldoze but urged the people to cooperate and comply with the court order.”- By Our Reporter