Harijans to examine relocation blueprint

SHILLONG, Sep 1: The Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC), which represents the residents of Harijan Colony at Them Iew Mawlong, has refused to react to the decision of the state government to relocate the 342 families to the existing quarters of the Shillong Municipal Board office on Bishop Cotton Road. The HPC said it would wait for the state government to send them the blueprint prepared by the urban Affairs department following which it will hold consultations with the concerned families and announce its decision on the matter.
Four years after the high-level committee led by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong was constituted to examine relevant records and documents relating to the relocation of the colony, the state government has decided to relocate the 342 families from Harijan Colony to the SMB quarters which will be reconstructed for the purpose. HPC chairman Gurjeet Singh on Thursday did not comment much on the latest decision of the state government and said that they will meet the government as and when called and deliberate on the matter.
It is learnt that the state government may call the HPC for discussions by the end of this month once the Urban Affairs department submits details pertaining to drawings and estimates for construction of dwelling units on the SMB premises on Bishop Cotton Road measuring around 2.5 acres.
As per the initial plan, about 30-40 flats or units will be constructed in the 12 blocks and these units will be allocated to the families whose names have already been submitted to the High Court of Meghalaya.
The government would have to demolish the existing buildings as they are not strong and reconstruct the dwelling units for which necessary instructions have been issued to the concerned department.