The final decision on relocation of 342 families from Sweepers Colony at Them Ïew Mawlong will be taken after the Durga Puja holiday next month.
Today, a closed door meeting was held between members of the High Level Committee (HLC) led by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and representatives of Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) at the State secretariat to discuss the relocation issue.
A detailed presentation including a blueprint was given to the HPC representatives on the proposed plot in the existing quarters of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) at Bishop Cotton Road.
During the meeting, the HLC said that it planned to accommodate all the 342 families of Sweepers Colony in dwelling units that will be created in the existing SMB compound having 2.5 acres of land.
The hardcopy of the blueprint will officially be given to the leaders of HPC tomorrow to enable it to take a decision whether to accept relocation to the site.
It was also decided that the next meeting between HLC and HPC would be held after the Puja holidays next month.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, HPC secretary Gurjit Singh said that the meeting discussed the blueprint prepared by the government.
“After receiving the official copy of the blueprint, we will have a meeting with all the residents of the colony to decide on the matter,” Singh said.
Stating that the eight points that HPC had raised in its earlier representation to the government have been rejected, Singh said the State government wanted to accommodate all the 342 families in a multi-storey building.
“We will discuss this aspect among all the residents to see if they all agree to it or not,” he added.
This is the third meeting between the HLC set up by the State government and leaders of the HPC.
It was attended by Urban Affairs Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo and other senior officials.
It may be mentioned that several meetings have already been held in the past to discuss the relocation of the 342 families from Sweepers Colony at Them Ïew Mawlong.
The last meeting between the two sides was on April 25 this year wherein the HPC said that they agreed to be relocated but with conditions.
