SHILLONG, Sep 23: To get the ball rolling, the Ministry of Defence has written to the Defence Estate Officer, Guwahati, for relocation of the 58 Gorkha Training Centre (GTC) gate, which is located at Happy Valley and leads to Mawshbuit village.
The Ministry’s move comes after receiving letters from Cabinet Minister, Sanbor Shullai, and KHADC Chairman and local MDC, Pyniaid Sing Syiem, who had petitioned for the relocation of the GTC gate.
Shullai, Syiem, officials of the district administration and police, and Mawshbuit Dorbar Shnong held a meeting with officials of Defence Estate Officer, Guwahati, along with the Deputy Commandant of 58 GTC, on Thursday.
A detailed deliberation was held for the relocation of the gate to another location.
It may be mentioned that repeated scuffles between residents of Mawshbuit and 58 GTC had led to reinvigoration of the demand for shifting of this gate.
It is said that the general public did not face any problem to pass via the PWD road which connects Happy Valley to Mawshbuit until the late 80s when the 58 GTC erected the gate.
Speaking to reporters, Shullai heaped praises on the district administration, authorities of the 58 GTC and the Mawshbuit Dorbar Shnong, and praised the efforts of the local MDC for setting up a committee to resolve the imbroglio.
“The state government will allocate funds for the shifting of the gate of the 58 GTC,” he informed.
The minister has maintained that the people of the area will not face any problem once the gate is shifted to a new location.
He also said that the committee will submit a detailed report on the steps initiated, which will be submitted to the Defence Ministry through the DEO.
Meanwhile, KHADC Chairman Pyniaid Sing Syiem appreciated the steps taken by Shullai and added that the Ministry’s response came within two months of him writing a letter to the Minister of State for Defence for relocation of the GTC gate.
“We have carried out a joint inspection to shift the gate to the other side,” Syiem said, adding, “I would also urge upon the personnel of the 58 GTC to stop harassing the local residents”.
Meanwhile, thanking the Ministry, the state government and Mawshbuit Dorbar Shnong have expressed hope that the gate is relocated at the earliest.
