HPC’s decision hinges on relocation blueprint

SHILLONG, Sep 29: The Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) will decide on the relocation of the residents of Harijan Colony after receiving the hardcopy of its blueprint from the state government.
The HPC’s third meeting with the government-constituted High Level Committee (HLC) was held on Thursday.
Later, HPC secretary Gurjeet Singh told reporters until the committee receives the hardcopy of the blueprint, nothing much can be said about it. He said the committee will hold a meeting with all residents of the Harijan Colony and take a decision after receiving the hardcopy of the blueprint and examining it.
Deputy Chief Minister and HLC chairperson Prestone Tynsong said the blueprint would be handed over to the HPC on Friday.
Stating that the eight points which the HPC raised in its earlier representation have not been addressed, Singh said the government wants to settle the residents in a multistorey building but it remains to be seen whether or not they all agree to it.
Tynsong said a detailed presentation was given to the HPC on the proposed relocation to the existing quarters of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) at the Bishop Cotton Road.
“We discussed this particular location. We informed that the government has decided and identified a place for relocation and that will happen in the existing quarters at the Bishop Cotton Road,” he said.
“We have also shown them the presentation, detailed drawings and design of the building where we wanted to create a unit system for all the 342 families,” the Deputy CM said, adding, “Tomorrow, we are going to hand over the copy of the blueprint to the HPC. They informed that after receiving it, they will immediately sit down”.
Stating that all the families will be accommodated at the same place, he said the unit system will be created in place of the existing SMB quarters in around 2.5 acres of land.
Asked if the HPC has agreed to relocate to the place in question, he said, “I don’t know…but of course we are meeting them again after the puja holidays”.