MLA, Dorbar against relocation of Harijans to Mawbah locality

SHILLONG, July 14: South Shillong MLA Mohendro Rapsang has strongly opposed the government’s plan to relocate the residents of Harijan Colony on three acres of land near the Reid Provincial Chest (TB) Hospital at Mawbah.
The state government had on Wednesday told the High Court of Meghalaya that it has prepared the blueprint for the allotment of the three-acre plot for constructing a multi-storey building to house the residents of Harijan Colony.
“The population density of the congested area is already high. If we add another colony of so many families, it will be a big problem,” he said on Thursday.
Rapsang said he will meet Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong with a request to reconsider the relocation plan at Mawbah. He said Tynsong had in his last meeting said the area would merely be explored.
Tynsong is also the chairman of the High-Level Committee on the Harijan Colony issue.
Rapsang maintained that nothing other than the hospital should be in the area the government is eyeing.
The Rangbah Shnong of Mawbah, David Syiemlieh said the Dorbar Shnong had objected to the proposal of the state government to shift the residents from Them Iew Mawlong to the locality.
He said the state government did not do a proper study of the locality, which is “overcrowded” with about 14,000 people.
Syiemlieh said they were disappointed as the government had not consulted them before selecting the site. This was unlike the cooperation the government had sought from the Dorbar Shnong for other issues, including the COVID-19 lockdown and the setting up of the Shillong Medical College in the area.
Syiemlieh said the Dorbar had requested Rapsang to get an appointment with Tynsong for submitting a memorandum to oppose the government’s move.