IMPHAL, January 22: It is unfortunate the Thangmeiband MLA Joykishan had tried to stop the construction of the temporary market shed for the displaced vendors of the two Ima Markets damaged by the recent earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, said government spokesperson Moirangthem Okendro Singh who is also the State Education minister.
At the same time, no problem would have erupted had the different groups of women vendors agreed to the construction of a temporary market shed at the parking space near the present Temporary Market shed, he said.
Okendro was clarifying to Joykishan`™s contention that the Imphal Municipal Corporation had issued a notification on January 7 identifying the parking space as the site for the construction of the temporary market to accommodate the displaced vendors.
Briefing media persons today in connection with the issue surrounding the construction of the temporary market by blocking off Thangal Bazar road, he said it is unfortunate that the strong quake had damaged many structures in the State including private houses, school buildings, public properties and government offices.
However, the main issue in the aftermath of the strong quake had been provision of accommodation for the displaced women vendors, the minister said.
On January 5, the `Ima vendors`™ had pressurised the government to provide a temporary shed at a suitable place for them, he added.
Stressing further on the issue, he said the Luxmi Market which was damaged in the quake has 736 licenced vendors while, the second market damaged New Market has 1136 licenced vendors.
In total 1878 women vendors have been displaced due to the damages suffered by the two markets, he said.
He continued we are all aware of the different groups of women vendors and that the government has to look into all their different problems.
He said the temporary structure under construction along the Thangal Bazar road will accommodate only 500 vendors and is only a temporary measure. The structure is being conducted by leaving a 15-feet wide road space, he added.
At the same time, the government can accommodate another 500 vendors in the upper floors of the Purana Market. The government is also planning to construct another shed near the present temporary shed which will accommodate another 1000 vendors, he asserted.
All these steps are being taken up as emergency measures by the government and not to gain some benefits, he asserted.
Further clarifying on Joykishan`™s claim that he was not informed prior to the construction of the temporary structure, Okendro said the government had discussed the issued several times before commencing construction and if the Thangmeiband MLA had at least asked the concerned minister or officials without disrupting the construction, the tension surrounding the construction could have be averted.
He continued the two damaged market buildings have been already inspected by expert teams including from the IIT Roorkee and IIT Jodhpur, he said continuing that the State government has received a preliminary report from the IIT Roorkee and awaiting the final report on whether to reconstruct the buildings or just repair them.
He further appealed to the people of the State to co-operate with the measures taken up by the government in the interest of the ima vendors.