Shillong: Amid growing tensions over the recent eviction drive at Khyndailad, Cabinet Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Tuesday defended the Meghalaya government’s actions, calling it a long-planned initiative to decongest Shillong’s commercial hub and restore order to public spaces.
Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh said the government’s objective is to pedestrianise the Khyndailad area, aligning with a broader vision of making public spaces more inclusive and accessible. “All road users have equal rights—pedestrians, motorists, and vendors. The right to vend cannot come at the cost of denying access to others,” he said.
Addressing allegations of sudden enforcement, the minister clarified that the issue had been under discussion for over a year. “This wasn’t done in a flash. Multiple rounds of meetings were held with vendor representatives, and everything has been properly recorded and minuted. Even NGOs like the KSU and Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong participated,” he said.
Lyngdoh described Monday’s standoff between vendors and authorities as “unfortunate and uncalled for,” reiterating that only those with a Certificate of Vending (COV) are allowed to operate in the area. “Despite repeated extensions, many continue to resist the move. The government has now extended the deadline until July 22,” he added.
Of the 400 hawkers identified, around 200 have agreed to relocate to the newly designated vending zone at the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) building. The government has sanctioned a one-time shifting allowance of ₹10,000 and monthly support of ₹2,000 for five months to assist with the transition.
Responding to claims that some of the 200 vendors shifting to the new zone are not genuine hawkers, Lyngdoh said, “Anyone can make allegations. But everything is documented. We are accountable not just to the people of Meghalaya, but also to the High Court.”
On speculation that the government is acting under judicial pressure, Lyngdoh clarified, “This is not about pressure. We are following a timeline set after a year of consultations.”
He also confirmed that the government has directed the CEO of the Shillong Municipal Board to reconvene the Town Vending Committee (TVC) in the coming days to continue the process of dialogue and rehabilitation.
Touching on the vendors’ reluctance to shift, despite their demand to move operations from the MUDA basement to the first floor being accepted, Lyngdoh alleged the presence of “vested interests” working to prolong the crisis. “The majority, including their top leaders, have already agreed. This reluctance suggests others have a hidden agenda and don’t want the issue resolved,” he said.
Asked whether force would be used after July 22, Lyngdoh said, “We are giving them time. After that, the law will take its course.”
On whether similar actions will be taken in other areas like Laitumkhrah, he noted, “Right now, our focus is on resolving Khyndailad. If we succeed here, this model can be extended across Shillong.”
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