SHILLONG:
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, on June 28, said that he has to convene a meeting with the concerning departments and only then will be able to give details on the status of the blueprint for the relocation of the 342 families of Harijan Colony from Them Iew Mawlong.
“Very soon I am going to call a meeting with the urban affairs department and inter-connected departments and thereafter I will see whether the blueprint is ready or not,” Tynsong, who is also heading the High Level Committee (HLC) on the issue, said.
Earlier on April 27, Tynsong had said that the matter of relocation of residents of Them Iewmawlong could end up in court for a final verdict if the HPC demands more than the government can accommodate.
“We will prepare the blueprint and send it to them (HPC). If they reject, we have to meet in the court. If they reject the packages offered by us (government) then we can’t help it. We will have to fight and ultimately let the court decide,” Tynsong had said.
On April 25, the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) had agreed to be relocated from the Them Iew Mawlong on conditions that the state government should provide 200 square meters of land to each of the 342 families within the European Ward, besides bearing the cost of construction of their homes.
However, there has been stiff opposition from several pressure groups against the HPC’s demands. On April 27, the Khasi Students’ Union had warned of “mayhem” in the state if the government “succumbs” to the committee’s demands.