Raising their issue and complaining about the poor quality of the buildings, six members of the Khwairamband Ima Kethel Semgat Sagatpa Lup (Khwairamband women vendors’ organisation) met Chief Minister Okram Ibobi in the morning.
The 6.8 magnitude tremor that hit Manipur early Monday morning caused serious damage to the three buildings of the all-women market in Khwairamband Bazaar, Imphal, leaving over 3000 vendors without sheds.
A few pillars broke and cracks have developed on the walls in many places of the three-storied buildings, which were inaugurated by the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in November 2010.
As the buildings are now unsafe for occupancy, the market has been closed and since morning all the vendors have gathered outside the building number one, which has suffered less damage compared to other two buildings. The irate vendors have complained that the buildings suffered damage because quality was not maintained while constructing the buildings.
Raising their issue and complaining about the poor quality of the buildings, six members of the Khwairamband Ima Kethel Semgat Sagatpa Lup (Khwairamband women vendors’ organisation) met Chief Minister Okram Ibobi in the morning.
“The CM has assured us that the damages would be repaired within 15 days. He also requested us to use the existing temporary shed for the time being,” said Mayanglambam Radhesana, Vice President, Khwairamband Ima Kethel Semgat Sagatpa Lup.
However, the women vendors complained that the temporary shed is not large enough for over 3000 vendors to sit together. “These buildings are unsafe now, but we do not want to go to the temporary shed as it would be too crowded. We would instead prefer sitting on the street in front of the damaged building,” added Radhesana.
The vendors, who earn their living by selling clothes, fish, food items and other household items here, are worried that they livelihood would be affected and they would suffer. The public is also unhappy with the damage and many blamed ‘corrupt’ politicians, engineers and contractors for the poor quality of the buildings.
Saratchandra, who had come for shopping at the Khwairamband bazaar said, “I'm shocked to see the broken pillars and cracks on the walls of these new buildings. It’s a shame for the Manipur Government. The earthquake has exposed the corrupted politicians, engineers and contractors of the state.”
Police have barricaded the market area preventing entry to shoppers for the safety purposes.
For more such hyperlocal stories, visit iamin.in.
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