SHILLONG, July 21: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has said the Harijan Colony residents have to be relocated at any cost.
“Relocation has to take place and there is no option. I will call a meeting between the HPC (Harijan Panchayat Committee) and the government once the blueprint is made,” he told reporters on Thursday.
The Urban Affairs Department has been asked to prepare the blueprint for the relocation showing all possible locations apart from the TB Hospital area, Tynsong said.
The Dorbar Shnong of Mawbah had met him to convey their stiff opposition to the shifting of the Harijan Colony residents to the TB Hospital premises.
“I cannot say anything since I don’t have the blueprint but I have to respect the sentiments of the local authority. We will try our best to adjust accordingly so that both sides are happy,” Tynsong said.
He said the question of settling the Harijan Colony residents in the European Ward – the HPC had demanded land here – does not arise as the blueprint for relocation has not been made. But there will be a solution after discussions, he added.
It was learnt that the Shillong Municipal Board is undertaking repairs of the temporary quarters. The onus of shifting would be on the municipal staff among the Harijan Colony residents after the repair work is completed.
Electricity to Harijan Colony residents questioned
RTI activist Disparsing Rani on Thursday asked the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) as to why it provided electricity connection to 100 households in Harijan Colony at Them Iew Mawlong when they did not allegedly submit the requisite documents.
Rani told reporters this proves these residents do not have any documents, including the No Objection Certificate (NOC) which is issued by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) and the Syiem of Hima Mylliem, to buttress their claim they are the residents of this place.
He asked if there are only 100 households that have been electrified, then what about the others since official records suggest there are 342 families residing there.
Rani said he had sought a copy of the NOC and the land document which the Harijan Colony residents must have submitted given their claim that they have been the owner of the land since 1853.
“If the residents are the landowners, then the Syiem of Mylliem would have given them a land patta and the MeECL should have a copy of it as it is mandatory to submit a photocopy of land patta for electricity connection,” the activist said.
But, he continued, if the residents are not the actual owners of the land, then the authority lies with the Syiem of Mylliem and the SMB as per the agreement signed in 1954 between Joymanik Syiem and the then vice chairman of the board L Pal.
“As per the agreement, if the SMB violated any of the norms, then the Syiem of Mylliem has the power to take back the land,” Rani said.
