SHILLONG, AUG 12: Thousands of people, including traders, on Tuesday supported the decisions of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Hima Mylliem to restore the lost glory of Iewduh, the biggest traditional market in the state, including the decision to ban sale of illicit liquor at a public meeting held at Mothphran..
Trade and commerce in and around Iewduh came to a standstill with all the business establishments remaining closed during the two-hour long meeting which started at 9 am and ended at 11 am.
“The Executive Committee (EC) has decided to implement the decisions to revamp and restore the lost glory of Iewduh which taken at a meeting held on July 28,” KHADC’s chief executive member (CEM) Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said while announcing its decisions to be implemented with immediate effect from Tuesday.
Basaiawmoit also said that the KHADC and Hima Mylliem have decided to ban the sale of illegal liquor in shops and restaurants operating in and around the market even as he issued strict warning against violators and threatened to cancel their rights to operate business in the market.
According to Basaiawmoit many people have failed to take up their responsibilities of looking after their families and their works because of drinking. He said, “We are not saying don’t drink but there is a limit towards everything .The decision is a clarion call to our people to be responsible in whatever they do for the upliftment of the society as a whole.”
Basaiawmoit also informed that the district council has also decided to direct all the porters to register with the KHADC besides obtaining labour license in the case of those belonging to non-indigenous community in view of the increasing cases of ‘pickpockets’ causing unnecessary harassment to visitors of the market.
Basaiawmoit added, “Moreover, the porters (dajus) will also be made to have their own uniforms and badge number as this is to streamline the market and at the same ensure security to everyone.”
To ensure all round cleanliness of the market, Basaiawmoit said that it has been decided to take some measures by cleaning the market and constructing public latrines in locations to be identified by the Hima Mylliem.
Stating that there are apprehension that the EC is only making a fail attempt, Basaiawmoit however said, “I am confident that the council will overcome such challenges and this will happen only with the support of everybody and I challenged that in five years time, the market will not be the way it is now… there will be complete change right from cleanliness to the mindset of the people.”
Basaiawmoit also said the KHADC would soon write to the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) asking it to immediately remove all the water pipes lying on the open which pose serious inconveniences to the people and visitors of the market.
On the plight of the farmers, Basaiawmoit informed that directions will be issued that there will no longer be imposition of tax to farmers on agricultural products which are below 35 kgs , however for those products weighing 35 to 50 kgs, farmers will have to pay Rs 10, and those above 51 kgs, it will be Rs 15 tax.
Reiterating that his EC is not anti-non tribal, Basaiawmoit said the recent eviction drive carried by the enforcement wing of the council against illegal business establishments by non-tribal and illegal hawkers does not mean that the council will allow the local tribal people to carry out their business and make the market congested.
Castigating the state government’s failure, Basaiawmoit alleged that the failure of the police to arrest and trace down the eight accused involved in assaulting the enforcement officials is due to the fact that they are from Bangladesh.- By Our Reporter
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