SHILLONG, May 11: Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday said he has instructed the Urban Affairs department to complete the blueprint on the proposed relocation of the residents of Them Iew Mawlong at the earliest.
He told reporters that he had instructed the department to take up the matter on top priority. It will be great if the blueprint is ready by this month, he said.
According to him, the details of the blueprint will be shared with the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC).
“It is for the HPC to decide whether to accept or reject the offer made by the government. I would like to say that let us be realistic. We are working responsibly towards finding a permanent solution,” Tynsong said.
He said the government will invite the HPC for talks once the blueprint is ready. There is nothing wrong with the conditions set by the HPC, he said.
“But it does not mean the government is going to comply with them. What we need is a reasonable solution,” he said.
The HPC sought nine acres of alternative land as a part of relocation in exchange of current land at Them Iew Mawlong. HPC secretary, Gurjit Singh had said the discussion was on the relocation of the 342 families residing at the Harijan Colony.
He said the HPC wanted the government to provide the nine acres of permanent land at the European Ward and financial assistance for the construction of the houses.
Exemption from CAA
Tynsong said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is relentlessly pushing for the exemption of the state, including the 3% areas under European Ward, from the purview of Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
He recalled that the state government had submitted a memorandum to the Centre in line with the demand of the civil societies such as Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong and Nokmas.
He said none from outside India has sought citizenship in Meghalaya so far. The Assembly had in March, 2020 passed a resolution to urge the Centre to exempt the entire state from the CAA’s purview.
Tynsong said the state government is also pursuing the demand to implement inner line permit in the state besides the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.