The Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC), which represents the residents of Them Iewmawlong, have stood by the eligibility of all 342 households for relocation, although the state government is still waiting on verification of the numbers.
Recently, a pressure group discovered through data supplied through a Right to Information (RTI) request that only 194 of the 342 families living in Them Iewmawlong have a member or members who are employed by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB). The pressure group thus questioned why all 342 families should be relocated and be provided with housing on SMB land. After the RTI findings were released, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong directed that the data be verified.
Tynsong and the state’s other Deputy CM, Sniawbhalang Dhar, attended a high-level committee meeting with the HPC here today. The two parties have decided on holding a last and final meeting on June 7.
The HPC described today’s meeting as fruitful but said that there are a few points that need to be discussed with the residents of Them Iewmawlong before a final meeting can be held with the government.
Speaking to reporters, Tynsong declined to say much about the number of households to be resettled. He informed that he has referred the case to the Director of Urban Affairs. As the RTI was sought from the SMB, he directed the Urban Affairs Department and Meghalaya Urban Development Agency (MUDA) to confirm the numbers.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang, Meghalaya Advocate General Amit Kumar and HPC general secretary Gurjit Singh, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara management committee general secretary Jagdeep Singh and several members of the HPC.
“We had discussions on various aspects in continuation of our last meeting. We haven’t come to a conclusion as yet but, yes, we have fixed another meeting for next month and hopefully we will conclude it,” Jagdeep Singh said. “The demand for extra acres of land is still there but we have seen progress though the final decision will be made next month. There are a few issues we need to discuss with the family but we want an amicable solution so hopefully by next month we will come to a consensus.”
On the RTI findings, he said that the figures do not tell the whole story. Based on a government survey in the first decade of this century, it was agreed by the HPC and government that 342 families live in Them Iewmawlong.
Gurjit Singh said that the new housing is not meant only for government employees but for the families who have been living in Them Iewmawlong for nearly 200 years and who are now being forced to resettle. “Families residing here have been living here for the last 200 years and this number of 342 families was taken into consideration by the government and this is the same claim we have taken to the High Court,” he said.
Jagdeep Singh added that with the families having lived in the same area for two centuries no one can question if their demands are reasonable or not.
Tynsong also suggested that the SMB data might be incomplete as the SMB quarters were gutted in a fire in 1996, resulting in the loss of documents.
“In 2008-2009, the Director of Urban Affairs directed MUDA to conduct a fresh survey about the families present there. So, for me to make any comments on the families residing there would not be appropriate. Let’s wait for the verification from the Director of Urban Affairs and MUDA,” Tynsong said.
