Shillong, Jun 21: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has assured state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders that his ministry will take up the matter of the relocation of residents of Them Ïewmawlong and unresolved land matters in Shillong Cantonment.
A delegation led by state BJP president Rikman Momin called on Singh during his Shillong visit and highlighted issues that have remained pending for years.
One proposal for the relocation of Them Ïewmawlong residents is onto defence land in the Shillong Cantonment.
Momin told Singh that an amicable settlement on Them Ïewmawlong was critical for social harmony in the state and would be viewed positively in the context of the Centre’s engagement with tribal communities.
The delegation also flagged administrative delays in Shillong Cantonment, such as the implementation of building by-laws and finalisation of the new land policy that has been stuck since 2017.
The interim policy has inflated land rent for residents by nearly 1,000 times, the BJP delegation opined, and prolonging it further risks legal disputes. The saffron party also sought clearance for defence land needed to expand the road from Barik Point to Jhalupara in Shillong in order to decongest the stretch.
Singh said his ministry would examine each issue and coordinate with relevant authorities to find workable solutions at the earliest.
