GUWAHATI: Days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Guwahati for the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit, street vendors in Rukminigaon have been asked to vacate their spots, raising concerns about their livelihoods.
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Several vendors in the area claimed they were suddenly instructed to move without any prior notice.
Talking to GPlus, a vendor near Aditya Towers said, "Today, GMC officials came and asked us to vacate. We had no idea this was coming."
Another vendor in the area talking to GPlus said, "We were told to vacate till March 1 because of the PM’s visit. No written notice was given, they just came and asked us to leave. We don’t know how we will survive like this."
However, talking to GPlus, a senior official from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) said, "These vendors have been setting up their stalls in public spaces without proper authorization. We have to ask them to vacate from time to time because they are not permitted to occupy these areas. Once the designated vending zones are officially approved, we hope they will relocate there and continue their business legally."
The eviction drive has once again put the spotlight on the long-standing issue of designated vending zones in the city. While authorities argue that these removals are part of routine enforcement, vendors fear displacement without alternative arrangements.
