There is apprehension that the Shillong Municipal Board quarters could turn into another Goraline where there are persistent allegations of illegal construction.
Wankitbok Pohshna, who has repeatedly highlighted the Goraline issue, was referring to the plan to relocate more than 300 families that currently occupy the Harijan Colony in Them Iewmawlong to the SMB quarters. Pohshna has flagged the issue of “illegal constructions” at the SMB compound in Goraline in the past though not much has been done about it by the authorities.
“What guarantee will the government give to the people that a Goraline-like scenario will not be recreated at the proposed site (of the Harijan Colony residents)? In order to build trust, the district administration must first take action on the current state of the municipal compound at Goraline before coming up with such plans to shift another colony towards the Laitumkhrah area,” Pohshna said.
