Business community in Nagaland urges govt. to stop harassment; threatens to stop services

Dimapur, June 2 (EMN): The Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) has expressed dismay over the harassment being meted out to the essential service providers and vehicles on essential duty, allegedly by the law enforcing agencies and volunteers.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the body demanded the government to immediately intervene and stop all forms of harassment across the state, which it said had deeply hurt the sentiments of the business community.

While stating that the business community wholeheartedly support the state-wide lockdown to mitigate the spread of Covid-19, it state but the government’s failure to implement it systematically has ‘done enough damage to the state economy’ and traders.

It claimed that they were harassed while ‘tirelessly trying to ensure the availability of essential items in the market despite all the risk involved’. It also stated that the odd-even traffic system in Dimapur on essentials service vehicle and imposition of fine is “is totally uncalled” as essential service providers are “braving the pandemic to feed the public”.

The business body has asked the law enforcing agencies to immediately stop harassing the trading community and do away with odd-even system as well as imposition of fine on essential duty vehicles, failing which it would direct the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and other affiliated business bodies to stop essential service with immediate effect.

The CNCCI also stated that exempting construction activities from the purview of the lockdown was a “mockery” as support system like hardware shops, garages, spare parts shops etc. that keep the construction activities afloat were closed.

Therefore, it suggested that the government allows such stores to operate on odd-even system under Dimapur municipal area, while those falling in the stretch from Purana Bazar to Chümoukedima be allowed to open like normal days as these shops “are far apart from each other and has enough space to maintain SOP”.