The long pending issue of relocation of settlers of Sweepers Colony is set to figure again in the meeting between the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) and the State government on December 7.
Informing this here today, Urban Affairs Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar said that he was optimistic that the vexed issue will be finally resolved at the proposed meeting.
Asked about the observations made by the HPC regarding the blueprint prepared by the State government for their resettlement, Dhar said that the government is trying to make some adjustments in the blueprint following a request from the HPC.
It may be mentioned that the contentious issue has dragged on in the Meghalaya High Court since 2018. The court had earlier observed that the matter of proposed relocation of the 342 families from Harijan colony at Them Ïew Mawlong has dragged on for “far too long”.
The State government has proposed to relocate the residents of Them Ïew Mawlong to the Shillong Municipal Board land at Bivar Road here.
The Urban Affairs Department had come up with a blueprint to accommodate all the 342 families in dwelling units that will be created in place of the existing SMB quarters.
The blueprint proposed the construction of 30-40 flats in 12 blocks on a 2.5-acre plot of land.
In October 2021, the State government took possession of the land measuring 12,444.13 square metres at Sweepers’ 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 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.
