Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on November 2 said that the 342 families of Harijan Colony who are to be relocated are not illegal settlers.
He told reporters that their details and records are already in the office of the Shillong Municipal Board and added that the names are also with the high court.
“You can’t say that they are illegal settlers,” Tynsong told while reacting to allegations made to to that effect by some organisations.
He also said that the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) has so far not communicated to the government with regard to the relocation plan.
It may be mentioned that the state government on September 29 made a presentation of the blueprint indicating the detailed drawings and designs of the proposed buildings to be constructed for accommodating the 342 families.
He said that the court has already asked the HPC to submit an affidavit.
“I have told them that once you collect yourself and come to a decision among yourselves, inform us. But till now they are yet to communicate that. The high court has asked them to file the affidavit,” he said.
The government had also decided to hand over the blueprint – for construction of multi-storey flats at the premises of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) – to the HPC even as the latter had assured to take a final call on whether to accept or reject the proposal after Puja celebrations in the state.
Back then, the decision was taken after the state government had outrightly rejected the April 25 proposal of the HPC that 200 square meters of land be provided to each of the 342 families within the European Ward besides and cost of construction of their homes.