Govt should not succumb to HPC’s demands: NCP president

SHILLONG, April 30: NCP state president Saleng Sangma has said that the Meghalaya government should not succumb to the demands of the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) on the issue of relocation of Harijans, even as he suggested that the government must act according to the directives of the Judiciary.
Recently it was revealed that the HPC would agree to relocate the residents of Harijan Colony on conditions which included 9-10 acres of land in European ward.
Speaking to media persons here, the NCP chief said that Meghalaya government did not succumb to Assam when discussing the vexed boundary dispute and it should not succumb to the HPC’s demands too.
Sangma, however, stated that the staff of the government should be relocated properly, for which the government, according to him, is already making provisions.
Terming the issue as small, he said the government should not have any major problem in resolving the issue of relocation.
Harijan Colony residents have finally agreed to relocate from Them Iew Mawlong with several riders, including the provision of land for the 342 families in the European Ward of the city.
The HPC wants 200 square metres (approximately 2,150 sq. ft) of land for each family and it would come to around 9-10 acres for the 342 families.
Stating that the municipal buildings are already damaged, the HPC had said the total area of the land in the Harijan Colony measures around 3.33 acres.
In the proposal submitted to the government, the HPC sought Rs 20 lakh as construction cost for each house with all facilities.
The HPC also said the shifting of the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Shiv Mandir, Durga Puja Mandir, Valmiki Ashram, CNI Church and Guru Nanak School are not acceptable to the community.
The HPC further said about 60 people who earn their livelihood by running shops along the colony lane must be allowed to operate at the same place.