Shop owners directed to remove materials from footpaths

Dimapur, July 21 (EMN): The extra assistant commissioner (EAC) of Seithekema has directed all the shop owners along the four-lane National Highway 29 from Chekiye village to Tenyiphe-I to remove materials and other items on the footpaths within 15 days.

The EAC of Seithekema, Seyiekhrietuo Solo, has issued this order after having noticed that construction materials such as sand, stone chips, etc are being dumped on the footpath along the Tenyiphe-1, 7th Mile Model to Diphupar-A, Chekiye village stretch of the four-lane NH 29.

It was also observed that some business establishments have placed their wares such as vehicle tyres, fabricated windows, grills, gates etc., in front of the shops on the footpath.

The order stated that footpaths have been constructed to allow pedestrians to safely walk along the highway without any obstruction and are not meant to be used as dumping sites for stocking construction materials or as extensions of shops.

As a result of such obstruction on the footpath, it stated that pedestrians were forced to walk on the carriageway and put themselves at risk of being hit by oncoming vehicles.

As obstruction on the footpaths has seriously compromised public safety and has become a ‘public nuisance’ punishable under Section 268 of the IPC and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, the EAC has directed all the concerned property/ shop owners along the aforementioned stretch of the four-lane NH 29 to remove the material within 15 days.

It added that failure to comply with the order would compel the authority to appropriately clear the footpaths and the cost would be borne by the owners.