IMC House to discuss implementation plan

“No dustbin, no shop license” policy hits rule hurdle

By B. Rakesh Sharma

IMPHAL | Jan 3

“No dustbin, no license” policy for shops under Imphal Municipality Corporation (IMC) area will be implemented very soon in the state as announced by MAHUD minister, Th. Shyamkumar on December 27 during the launch of SP Group Private Limited.

IMC commissioner, Th. Harikumar said according to the present rule dustbin was not mandatory to obtain a shop license so approval of the House is needed to implement “no dustbin, no shop license” policy. The matter will be taken up in the House discussion which will be held on January 25, he added.

“If dustbin is made compulsory for all the shops it will be very helpful in maintaining a clean environment and moreover the mindset of the public also plays an important role in keeping a clean society,” the IMC commissioner said.

Regarding the compulsory parking facilities for big shopping complexes the IMC commissioner claimed that only the shopping complexes which were constructed from 2014 onwards have parking facilities in their basement as it was not mandatory before 2014.

When enquired about the parking area approved by the Traffic Regulation and Parking Committee (TRPC), Harikumar said that there are many “self-styled” parking in many areas which were not approved by the government. The self-styled parking were mostly run by local clubs so it is difficult for IMC to evict them, he added.

Harikumar said IMC is working at its best level to streamline the past mistakes and the present government is giving huge support in it.

According to officials of the IMC, there are approximately 12,000 shops which acquired shop license and from the parking tickets IMC were able to collect around  Rs. 7 lakhs per month.

When Imphal Free Press conducted a survey in some areas under IMC today it is found that only a few shops keep dustbin despites Shyamkumar’s announcement of cancelling shop license which does not have dustbin from the beginning of this year.

Moreover, big shopping complexes which were constructed after 2014 mostly do not have basement parking. Instead they let their customers parked on the road side and the shopping complex which have basement parking also let their customers parked their vehicles on the road side.

Shyamkumar had announced to implement ‘no dustbin, no shop license’ policy with the objective of keeping the environment clean which is one of top priorities of the present government.

Imphal is one of the 500 cities selected under the Shachh Bharat Mission and the survey for competition among the 500 citires will begin this month. Last year Imphal ranked 122.