Govt to let HC decide on relocation as last resort

SHILLONG, May 4: In spite of the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) agreeing to relocate Harijans from Them Iew Mawlong, fears about the matter ending in a stalemate persists in the wake of the conditions furnished by the HPC for relocation.
In the event that the two parties fail to arrive at an agreement, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said the government will leave it to the High Court of Meghalaya to decide on the proposed relocation.
“Yes it is true that the HPC had set some conditions for relocating them from Them Iew Mawlong. But it does not mean that the state government would accept all the conditions of the HPC. I have told them during the meeting that the condition which they have given is difficult to comply with,” Tynsong told reporters.
He said that the discussion with the HPC was facilitated following the direction from the High Court.
“We had anticipated that we would be able to initiate the process of relocation in a peaceful manner by way of a dialogue with the HPC,” the deputy chief minister said.
Tynsong said that the state government had made it very clear to the members of the HPC that they will be preparing a blueprint based on their demands, adding that they will again convene a meeting with the HPC once the blueprint is finalised.
Meanwhile, Tynsong said that the state government is also taking measures to protect the employees of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) and other departments.
It may mentioned that the HPC is asking the state government to provide 10 acres of alternative land as part of the relocation and also to bear the expenses of constructing the houses on the land in exchange of current land at Them Iew Mawlong to accommodate the residents of Harijan Colony.