The Meghalaya High Court has directed both the State government and Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) to resolve the issue of shifting of residents of Sweepers Colony by April so that the relocation can take place in the next two or three months and also to settle the matter once and for all.
The division bench of the Meghalaya High Court comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh passed the order today while hearing a writ appeal on the matter.
During the hearing, the State government informed the court that the HPC has been given time till April 10 to respond to the government’s proposal for shifting the 342 families from the colony to the premises of Shillong Municipal Board at Bivar Road here.
“The parties are requested to resolve the matter in the month of April itself so that the reallocation, if any, can take place within the next two or three months and the matter given a final quietus,” the High Court said while listing the matter for hearing on April 24.
Yesterday, the State government gave until April 10 to the HPC to reply to its proposal for relocation from Sweepers Colony.
According to Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who is also in charge of Urban Affairs Department, the government wrote to the HPC yesterday and once the latter’s reply is received, a meeting will be convened to take the process forward.
Dhar also said that once the residents are shifted to the new site, the government will come up “with the best project” to redevelop Sweepers Colony which sits adjacent to the bustling commercial area of Ïewduh.
