Shillong, Dec 7: The state government has decided to allot additional 1.4 acres of land for relocation of 342 families of the Sweepers’ Colony from Them Iew Mawlong even as it expressed confidence to resolve the issue by the second week of January, 2024.
The decision was announced after a meeting convened by the deputy chief minister in-charge home Prestone Tynsong and deputy chief minister in-charge urban affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar with the delegation of the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC), who were accompanied by representatives of the Delhi Gurudwara at the main secretariat on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said the meeting was a very positive one. “However, towards the end, we have given them one more round of their discussion among themselves. Once that is done, we already fixed the timeline on or before the second week of January, we will meet again and finalise everything,” he said.
“Since they (HPC) expressed their concerns about some more issues to be discussed among themselves, we allow them and said please do that and on or before second week of January we will meet again,” he added.
Asked, Tynsong said, “The modified blueprint is like this, the existing office of the municipal board, we have about 2.14 acres and because it is not enough to accommodate all the 342 families so ultimately we considered another additional plot, which is about 1.4 acres.”
“So, we have shown them and for more or less, as I said to you, things are in line for the final discussion,” he said.
The HPC members also expressed satisfaction with the blueprint presented on Thursday. They will now take the message to the other 342 families from the Harijan Colony.
HPC secretary Gurjit Singh said that some additional corrections will be made but overall, it was a positive meeting. “We can expect that the problem will be resolve by next year,” said Gurjit Singh.
