Shillong: Braving persistent rain, hawkers from Laitumkhrah continued their protest for the third consecutive day on Thursday outside the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) office, condemning what they described as the unilateral decision to alter the agreed relocation plan.
The protesting vendors alleged that they had actively cooperated with the authorities during the relocation process by visiting several proposed sites and suggesting alternative locations where they were willing to shift their businesses.
According to the hawkers, the locations they had proposed included the newly constructed Laitumkhrah Market built by the Shillong Municipal Board, the Fire Brigade Road stretch, the Health Complex area, and other suitable sites. They claimed these suggestions were made after consultations with officials, but were later disregarded without prior discussion or consent.
The protesters expressed disappointment over what they termed the authorities’ sudden change in stance, alleging that the revised decisions were taken without involving the affected vendors despite earlier engagements.
Holding placards and raising slogans despite the inclement weather, the hawkers demanded that the Municipal Board honour the relocation options that had previously been discussed and arrive at a mutually acceptable solution through dialogue.
The protest remained peaceful as the vendors reiterated that they were not opposing relocation itself but were objecting to the manner in which the decisions had been changed without consultation. They urged the authorities to reconsider their stand and engage with the hawkers before implementing any final relocation plan.
