SHILLONG:
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar, on May 15, informed that a meeting will be convened next week to discuss on the proposed relocation of the Harijan Colony from Them Iew Mawong.
“Next week, we will have to meet again because till today we haven’t received any order from the Court on the matter,” Dhar told reporters.
He however said there is nothing to worry as the government will take its own course of action on the matter.
Last week, the deputy chief minister had maintained that it was not possible for the government to accept the proposal of the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC).
According to him, the government will wait for the Court’s verdict on the issue.
“Frankly speaking that is not possible because their (HPC) demand is too high. Since they have gone to the court we have to wait for the court’s verdict,” Dhar had told reporters.
The government had in fact came up with a blueprint after rejecting the April 25,2022-proposal of the HPC that 200 square meters of land be provided to each of the 342 families within the European ward besides bearing the cost of construction of their homes.
The government’s proposal is to relocate the 342 families of Sweepers’ Colony from Them Iew Mawlong to the existing land of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB). However, this proposal was rejected by the HPC recently in its reply submitted to the government.
Meanwhile, the deputy chief minister maintained that the government will not change its stand on relocation of the Sweepers’ Colony to the existing land of the SMB.