The State government today formally took over the 12,444 square metres of land at Sweepers Lane/Ïewmawlong here.
This was done in pursuance of a tripartite lease executed between the Meghalaya government (first party), Syiem of Mylliem (second party) and Shillong Municipal Board (third party) on March 31.
“We have already taken over possession of the land. The next step is for the cabinet to sit down again and we will discuss further,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who chaired the high-level committee that was set up to study the contentious issue of relocating the residents of the area, said.
The aforementioned residents are, however, opposed to being moved away from their land, which was given to the British to set up a colony for municipal workers in the 19th century.
Tynsong urged those living in the area to cooperate with the government and not think that the government is against them or that they are going to be thrown out.
“We are here not to victimise, not to throw out anybody. But we want to accommodate them in a proper place, in a proper manner, because right now that place is worse than a slum. It is not fit to live in that place. That is the intention of the government,” Tynsong told reporters.
One of the first acts of his committee, the Deputy CM said, was to order the SMB to conduct a census of Sweepers Lane to find out exactly how many people live there, be they employees of the SMB, those of the state government or new settlers. However, this process was opposed by the residents, he added.
