In a follow-up action plan to construct a new building at Aizawl's New Market and relocate 1073 traders at some makeshift locations the state's Commerce Minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana, accompanied by Tourism Minister Pu Robert Romawia Royte, Chief Secretary Pu Lalnunmawia Chuaungo and other top officials have scouted the proposed site, this morning. Yesterday, the eviction notice was served to the traders, yet again for the third time since the first one was served in 2015.

A joint consultation meeting between a team of officials and representatives of 50 plus various trade associations was held before field inspection at the Commerce and Industries Department's Site Office at New Market. Representations from the stakeholders along with the government's action plan were discussed at length. During his interaction with the representatives, Commerce Minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana, addressing the grievances of the trader, promised that the traders' main concern of not retaining their seats in the new building would be properly addressed in the next official meeting. While voicing the safety issues are paramount to the government, the public and the traders alike, he apologetically explained to the gathering that it was a very hard decision on government's part to interrupt the livelihoods of almost 2500 families. And this it was mandatory for the government to dismantle the building sooner than later to avoid major disaster and loss lives. However, he assured that no trader would be left out and everyone who has a business in the building would be properly relocated at convenient places in collaboration with the Aizawl Municipal Corporation(AMC).

As per the report by Commerce & Industries Director  Pu J. Hmingthanmawia and technical report by Er Bowman, Chief Engineer, PWD(Buildings) the old building at the Aizawl New Market area was constructed based on the drawing by Roorkee  College of Engineering in 1987. The building, after the inspection by Aizawl District Disaster Management Authority on 8.6.2015 was declared unsafe building that needs to be dismantled. Today it is standing precariously in a dilapidated condition. This structure is now becoming a severe problem that gives a sleepless night not only to the officials who would be held accountable should a major disaster happens but also a constant cause of the same for traders who are afraid of losing their livelihoods. The structure, eve after being declared unsafe in 2015 is consistently taking the heavy load of more than one thousand traders and their commodities along with their customers on a daily basis till today. According the assessment by the experts, the strength of pillars, beams and the structure, in general, are now so weak that the heavy load of the slab, the commodities, and the people traversing on it are enough for the building to collapse in the near future, let alone the Earthquake struck.  As it has been a critical concern for the government, an Eviction Notice was served again on Yesterday with one month from the date of the notice for the traders to evacuate the building. At present, the funding, the drawing and other requirements have been already prepared and the construction works are expected to commence as soon as the building is evacuated.

The incumbent MLA from the area Pu Robert Romawia Royte, Tourism Minister also expressed his satisfaction at the prompt response and eagerness of the Commerce Minister Dr. R.Lalthangliana, who have made it a point to take up the matters in an urgent manner right after the Cabinet Meeting. During his interaction with the Commerce Minister and the officials, he also had made an appeal to the government that the plights of all the displaced traders from the old market buildings be appropriately considered at the earliest possible. Pertaining to the project, Pu Robert Romawia Royte who hails from this area has also emphasized the equal importance of early dismantling of the old building as well as early commencement of the new building. On acknowledging the efforts of Commerce Minister and his team Pu Robert Romawia Royte has welcomed the proposed project within his constituency, which he believes would a better and bigger trade centre, an asset that future generation would be proud of.

Apart from the area's MLAs - Tourism Minister Pu Robert Romawia Royte,  Pu C. Lalsawivunga and Pu C. Lalmuanpuia; Pu VL Zaithanzama, MLA, Secretaries to Government of Mizoram, other top officials and representatives from various trade associations were in the inspecting team that visit the Old Building at New Market and interact with traders and their customers.