SHILLONG, March 24: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has hinted that the High-Level Committee (HLC) set up in 2018 to resolve the issue of relocating the residents of Them Iew Mawlong is close to submitting its report to the state government.
He said that the next meeting of the committee will be held very soon to prepare the report.
“We will then sit and finalise the report and send it to the government, accordingly,” Tynsong said on Wednesday.
The state government had constituted the HLC on Harijan Colony to look into the demand of moving the colony to another location following an altercation in June 2018 that spiralled into violent unrest and paralysed life in the area for days.
The Harijan Panchayat Committee, however, has been opposing the relocation.
The HLC is mandated with the responsibility of examining all relevant records and documents relating to the residents of the area, and recommend ways and means for their relocation.
The residents continue to live in the area under 24-hour police vigil.
The HLC had several rounds of meetings in the last two years but failed to submit its report to the government much to the annoyance of the pressure groups.
On reports that the Iew Mawlong area has been included in the Shillong Smart City project, Tynsong said: “When the whole of Shillong is under Smart City, the area becomes a part of the project.”
He also said that the government has appointed a consultant for examining and finding out the places for redevelopment and beautification.
“The project management consultant is yet to submit their report,” the deputy chief miniyster said.
