Food cart vendors want return to same area

Food cart vendors from Clock Tower, Khermahal and Notun Basti areas Monday and submitted a memorandum to the DC Dimapuur requesting that they be allowed to reopen their stalls at the same location from where they were prevented from operating.
Speaking with Nagaland Post, one of the vendors , appealed to the authority concerned to allocate them the same spot , as many local youth were facing financial constraints after their only source of income was closed.
Asked about the response from the district administration, the vendor said the additional DC had assured that they would be apprised of the decision after holding consultation with higher authorities and other organisations.
He claimed that the district administration, during a meeting with Commissioner of Police, Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) and Business Association of Nagaland (BAN), had planned to relocate them to Super Market.
He said the vendors wanted to return to the same location and assured they would follow whatever guidelines and restrictions for reopening their food cart vending business.
Asked why the food cart vendors did not want to go to Super Market, he replied that the proposed place was distant and that it would be difficult to take their carts everyday. He alsoclaimed that the vendors had been paying Rs 10 each to DMC and BAN each day.
On the allegation of playing loud music throughout the night till wee hours, causing serious problems on colony residents, he expressed apology and assured that they would run their stalls in disciplined manner.
He also denied that vendors sold alcohol to customers. He said the customers themselves often brought and drank alcohol openly despite their requests not to do so.
An elderly lady who used to run a food cart at Clock Tower told this reporter that it was the only business she was involved with and also the main source of income for many families.
Admitting nearby colony residents had faced many problems due to the food stalls, she said that all vendors were now willing to follow any specific rules and regulations laid down by the authorities concerned. She also appealed the administration to allocate them the same spot.
Another lady who earlier ran her stall from Clock Tower also alleged that they were all asked to shut their business without any prior notice. She pointed out that many youth got ventured into street food cart trade due to unemployment.
On why there were disinclined to be allowed to operate in Super Market, she pointed out that they would not be able to push their carts everyday as most of the vendors were elderly persons . Further, she stated that the vendors would face some problems when night carnivals were held at Super Market.
It was later learned that the food cart vendors had met commissioner of police and assistant commissioner of police (traffic) to apprise them of the problems faced by due to the closure of their stalls.