The State government has prepared a blueprint for allotment of three acres of land near the TB Hospital at Upper Mawprem here for construction of multi-storied housing flats to accommodate Harijans presently residing at Sweeper Colony in Them Ïew Mawlong here.
This was informed by Attorney General Amit Kumar before the division bench of Meghalaya High Court today during hearing of the writ appeal filed by the Harijan Panchayat Committee.
“It is hoped that the matter receives a quietus upon the government proposal being found satisfactory by the applicant. Let the matter appear four weeks hence,” the High Court said. The next hearing on the matter will be held on August 4.
It may be mentioned that on April 25, leaders of the HPC met Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong to discuss the relocation of people staying at Sweeper Colony.
During the discussion, the HPC has agreed to the relocation from the colony provided the government gives ten acres of land in the European Ward so that each of the 342 families will get 200 square metres and also bears the expenditure for the construction of their houses.
The State government assured the HPC that it would prepare a blueprint for identifying land for the 342 families residing in the Sweeper Colony. The Urban Affairs Department has been entrusted with the task to prepare the blueprint.
It was also learnt that the HPC and the State government are willing to reach an out of court settlement after an alternative land and building are provided to the people of Sweeper Colony before they are relocated from there.
In October 2021, the State government took possession of the land at Sweeper Colony after paying Rs 2 crore to the Hima Mylliem as a one-time payment.
This comes after signing of a tripartite lease deed between the government of Meghalaya, the Syiem of Hima Mylliem and Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) on March 31, 2021.
The State government said that beautification of the area will be done once the residents of the colony are shifted to a new site.
