IMPHAL, January 19: MLA Joykishan claimed today that according to a notification of the Imphal Municipal Corporation, the government had decided to make temporary arrangement for the displaced vendors of the Ima Markets at the space reserved for public parking north of the existing temporary market shed and not by blocking off the Thangal Bazar road.
Speaking to media persons at his residence today, he said the government had instructed the PWD to commence construction of the market shed from January 8 at the parking site without compromising on the interest of other unlicensed women vendors there.
The notification, he said was signed by IMC executive officer Ng Uttam Singh.
It is unfortunate that the PWD had disregarded the official order and instead began construction for the market shed on the busy Thangal Bazar Road, he said.
He continued the strike imposed against the construction of temporary market shed is not an issue of Thangmeiband alone but of the entire State.
The people of Manipur should raise their voice against the construction he called, stating that the huge traffic passing along the road should not be blocked.
Blocking traffic along the Thangal Bazar Road will only increase the traffic volume on the Nagamapal-Khuyathong road stretch, he added.
The students will be the most affected, he said stating that there are not only traders and businessmen in Thangal Bazar but there are also normal people residing there.
The BJP MLA said he is aware that the women vendors of the Ima Keithels have been hugely affected by the recent earthquake; however, we cannot remain silent if the government is doing anything wrong, he added.
The government is taking advantage of the situation and trying to side-line the issue of non-maintenance of quality in construction of the Ima Keithels, he observed.
He said under the Chief Minister, even the Works minister is unable to say anything even though the minister is fully aware that it is wrong.
If the government is doing good work we will commend it, but if the government is doing the wrong, we will not remain silent, he warned.
He further observed that although the work may be continued forcibly, however, the consequence may turn ugly.
The Chief Minister should know that he is the Chief Minister of Manipur and not just of the Congress, he said.
The issue should not be localised to only Thangmeiband, it is an issue of the State, he continued.
He said he is not against development or the welfare of the people.
He demanded the government to stop construction of the shed on the road as it is against public interest.