West Shillong MLA Mohendro Rapsang was shocked to learn today that the state government, despite his already publicised opposition and that of the local dorbar, has gone ahead with proposing to move residents from the Harijan Colony in Them Ïew Mawlong to the area around TB Hospital.
In a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong last month, Rapsang had been told that the government was just exploring the possibility of moving the 342 families into the MLA’s constituency.
“Today I have seen the news that the government has submitted a report to the High Court. Whether this is for permanent relocation, we are yet to know,” Rapsang said today.
He reiterated that he and the local Dorbar Shnong are strongly opposed to the move.
The reason is that the area around the hospital is already highly congested and densely populated and bringing in another 342 families will add to the neighbourhood’s problems.
“We have no resentment against the people from any colony. The core problem is the area being densely populated,” Rapsang said.
The MLA has also decided to meet Tynsong again, since he heads the High Level Committee (HLC) to look into the relocation of the Harijan colony. Rapsang informed that this time he will be accompanied by representatives of the Dorbar Shnong of the area to strengthen their argument.