SHILLONG:
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said that the issue of relocating the residents of Them Iewmawlong is sensitive in nature be it for the locals or for the other community, who throughout the country and the world has got involved in the matter.
“Therefore, it is not an easy problem to resolve. But we have really been focused on it and the High Level Committee that was set up worked extensively,” the chief minister said.
He also pointed out that the government has made some progress on the issue.
Sangma said that at one point of time nothing was moving, but today the residents are ready to relocate.
“Today we are at a point wherein we are negotiating. It is not a solution but we are moving towards it,” he said adding that such matters cannot be concluded in one or two discussions.
The chief minister said that everyone has to keep in mind that everybody is a citizen of Meghalaya and it is the government’s duty to protect all and also be able to resolve this problem by keeping the sentiments of people of both sides in mind.
Sangma also said that the government has not said it has agreed to the conditions set by the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) to relocate.
“The talks are on, let us discuss, let us figure out a way; we have waited for fifty years, let us wait for a month or two and let us see how things move forward in the other areas,” while saying that though there is an urgency such discussions need to be handled well.
“There are repercussions that go beyond the boundary of the state and we need to realise the impact of that and while we do that we must act responsibly. Find a solution with minimum damage,” Sangma said.