Licenses to non-tribal in Iewduh irks MDC

SHILLONG, MAR 2: Demands to direct the Syiem of Hima Mylliem office to stop issuing fresh no-objection certificate (NOC) for trading in Iewduh market by non-tribal traders were made during the ongoing budget session of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).

“Iewduh is known as the rice-place of the indigenous people. Therefore, we urge the executive committee to write to the Syiem of Hima Mylliem directing his office to stop issuing of fresh NOC for trading by non-tribals in the market,” KHNAM MDC James Ban Basaiawmoit said while participating during the question hour on Wednesday.

According to him, the EC should consider this request otherwise the purpose and objective of having the traditional market Iewduh will be defeated if non-tribal traders are given chance to outnumber the locals.

The demand came after the KHADC EM in-charge Trade, James Sylliang informed that the department out of 13 applications received had issued fresh trading license to 9 non-tribal traders for operating their businesses in the Iewduh market.

Questioning the decision of the EC to start issuing of fresh trading license to non-tribal traders, UDP MDC Donkupar Sumer however said, “The then executive committee had in 2014 directed the Hima Mylliem not to issue anymore fresh NOC to non tribal because it has cross the limit as per the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation Act.”

On this, Sylliang while informing that the decision was taken by the executive committee said, “The Act is to regulate not to prohibit. We can control the issuing of trading license if there are any violations on the part of the non-tribal traders.”

“However, if a non-tribal applicant fulfill the criteria, we cannot deny issuing of trading license to him,” he said while referring to some instances where the non-tribal traders had even threatened to move to court.

Further informing that regular checking is also being conducted by the department, he revealed that often it is also found that there is lots of benami transaction taking place where the local people claimed the shops belongs to them despite the fact that the business is owned by a non-tribal trader.

Meanwhile, the KHADC CEM PN Syiem has also assured the house that direction issued by the then ARPA led EC would also be examined.-By Our Reporter