Shillong:
Health minister and East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh have said that Shillong Municipal Board is the sole owner of the colony at Goraline, Laitumkhrah.
In the wake of the demand to relocate settlers from Them Iew Mawlong, the headman of Laitumkhrah Pyllun Andrew Jyrwa has demanded that sweepers from Laitumkhrah be also relocated.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday on the sidelines of a programme, Lyngdoh said that she does not want to add fuel to the fire but that the Dorbar should have approached the department concerned if there is any issue.
Stating that she is waiting for the Dorbar to write to her formally, she said, “If you say it is happening, give me evidence of what is happening, and let’s compile all of that evidence and let’s see because to my knowledge the municipal is the sole owner of that colony.”
She said that the Shillong Municipal Board has the colony of sweepers under control and the dorbar should have approached the department concerned if the dorbar feels that there are some threats or perceived threats in that locality.
“It is not correct to add fuel to fire. Practically speaking, that colony is contained and under the control of the Municipal Board and there is no dispute of land and no issue of illegal settlement as from time to time, there have been checks made and proper studies conducted,” she said.
Stating that she does not want to react to media reports, she said that there should be proper consultation and meeting across the table.
She asserted that she does not want to stir up a controversy and that if there is anything it should be done based on a strong premise.
Lyngdoh said that at Laitumkhrah, there is no such controversy when it comes to residents of any community.
“I will take a neutral stand as I am not aware of anything. I did not receive any letter. Maybe they do not need the MLA, I do not know. Election is over and so is politics. We know very well who voted for whom, let us not talk about it,” she said.
Maintaining that she is an MLA elected by the people, she said that the Dorbar shnong should have approached her as the MLA of the constituency as it is a sensitive issue.
She said that peace and harmony need to be maintained at Laitumkhrah.