Shillong: On the relocation of the 342 families from Them Mator (Harijan Colony) from Them Ïewmawlong, Meghalaya Government on Thursday has given time to the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) till April 10 to reply on the relocation blueprint.
Speaking to reporters, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister incharge of Urban Affairs, Sniawbhalang Dhar informed that the State government has declined the initial request of the HPC in giving them 3 (Three) months to thoroughly study the relocation blueprint but gave them till April 10 to come with a reply.
On Wednesday, Dhar had a meeting with the officers of Urban department at Secretariat in which they have taken the decision to decide the request of the HPC in seeking more time from the government to examine on the Blueprint.
“They have asked for 3 months time but we didn’t agree. We have decided yesterday in the meeting, we will give them till 10 of April to give reply to us”, said Dhar on Thursday while speaking to reporters.
Only until the HPC has given the reply, the Chairman of the High Level Committee (HLC) will called for a meeting to decide on the future plans, informed Dhar.
“Before taken the final decision, let us hear the final call from them first until we get their final call then we take a decision on what to do and what we shouldn’t do, it is not advisable for me to tell what to do now and what not to do”, added Dhar.
On the renovations of the quarters allotted to the 342 families, Dhar said that the government will Wait for their reply and see what they want then only the Government will take a call accordingly.
“If their demand is genuine, the government is ready to act accordingly but if their demand is not genuine we will keep on discussing but the government will try to solve it at the earliest”, further added Dhar.
Dhar said that Meghalaya Government will only take decisions on the “legal settlers” and the government are not aware of any illegal settlers at the Harijan colony at Thew Ïewmawlong, Shillong.
It may be mentioned, the Harijan Panchayat Committee have put up several demands from the government that includes- to allot 10 acres of land in the European Ward and bear the expenses for constructing the houses of the 342 families residing in the Harijan Colony. The HPC also said the shifting of the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Shiv Mandir, Durga Puja Mandir, Valmiki Ashram, CNI Church and Guru Nanak School are not acceptable to the community. Furthermore, the HPC have said about 60 people who earn their livelihood by running shops along the colony lane must be allowed to operate at Them Ïewmawlong even if they accept the relocation.
However, on September 29, the state government has decided to handover the blueprint – for construction of multi-storey flats at the existing official quarters of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) for relocation of the 342 families – to the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC). 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 bearing the cost of construction of their homes.
