A final settlement of the issue of relocation of residents of Sweepers Colony at Them Iew Mawlong is expected soon.
This was indicated by the lawyers of both the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) and State government on September 12 during hearing of the writ petition filed by the HPC against the government in the Meghalaya High Court.
Lawyers from both sides have sought time from the court to come up with a solution on the matter.
On the plea by the two parties, the bench of Justice Wanlura Diengdoh decided to list the matter for hearing after four weeks.
Recently, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said that a meeting to be convened by Chief Secretary Donald P. Wahlang will be held by the end of this month to take a final decision on relocation of the 342 families residing in Them Iew Mawlong.
“They (HPC) asked for time until the end of September to address further issues. We’ve given it to them. The next meeting will be at the Chief Secretary’s level,” Dhar had said.
On August 10, a meeting chaired by the Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home Prestone Tynsong in presence of Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar was held with the delegation of the HPC and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) here.
At the meeting, the HPC had expressed its satisfaction with the State government’s proposal. It however sought 15 days’ time to submit its final decision. Later, the HPC requested the State government to give time till the end of September to decide the matter.
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 Shillong Municipal Board land at Bivar Road here.
The government’s relocation plan involves providing 3.6 acres of land for the resettlement, including 2.14 acres within the existing municipal board premises and an additional 1.4 acres opposite the premises.
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.
