Port Blair, July 12: The District Authorities of Mayabunder upon learning the schedule of Lt. Governor’s visit have started evacuating the petty shops (Gumties) to tidy the area. The step taken to remove the Gumties has come as a blow to the poor shop owners who have been earning their livelihood through the shops since past two to three decades.

In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, with a copy to Andaman Chronicle, the Ward Member, Gram Panchayat, Mayabunder Shri KR Raja today said that the Gumties have been running since past 20-30 years, without any interference from the Administration. There are families of the Gumti owners including school going children and most of the Gumti owners have records of their existence for the period.  

He further writes that “Owing to the sudden declaration of your first visit to Mayabunder, the Administrative officers have started removing the Gumti Shops forcefully”.  The Ward Member sighting the scenario at Mayabunder has requested the Lt. Governor to allow the shops to continue considering the poor economic background of the Gumti owners.