From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on Thursday heard Chief Secretary Y Tsering and others for nearly two hours amid heated arguments over relocation of the settlers of Sweepers’ Lane in Shillong.
Another hearing will be held on August 9 since the High Court is also taking up a similar case.
During the hearing the state government maintained that the copy of the commission’s order was forwarded to it by Harijan body.
But the state government was neither heard nor given an opportunity to explain to the commission before it passed the order.
If the state government would have been given opportunity, it would have explained that it has taken all steps to safeguard the interest of all concerned including the Sikh minority staying in the colony.
The state government maintained that it has taken necessary measures to control the situation, and peace has been restored in the area.
It was also stated that despite provocative statements from all quarters, people of Shillong have acted in unison and helped in restoring peace in the area.
The state government also said that in the disputed colony not only Sikhs but people professing other faiths are also staying.
“The state is concerned about the welfare of all, irrespective of caste, creed, religion etc. in the area and the state has also taken steps to restore peace in the area,” it added during the submission.
The problems concerning the Sweepers’ Colony came up on account of varied reasons and this has been going on for almost a decade, the government said, adding that the reason for the move to relocate and rehabilitate the entire colony is that the people live in an unhygienic and unhealthy environment with no proper sanitation facilities.
There are illegal constructions in the ‘slum’ which lead to congestion making the colony prone to natural disasters.
On account of occupation of public land, it has resulted in encroachment of pavements and roads and it is also adjacent to one of the biggest traditional markets Iew Duh visited by thousands of people from all over Meghalaya.
The state government said that the Shillong Municipal Board had accommodated the Safai Karamcharis of the Board in two different locations- Mawlong Hat ( Sweepers’ Colony) and Goraline, Laitumkhrah.
At times there were violent incidents and illegal activities in the area, it said.
The government gave an instance of a fire incident and the inability of the fire tender to enter the area due to illegal construction.
“Over the years there were unauthorised constructions and encroachments by the relatives of the employees, retired employees and outsiders in the area”, it said.