Govt agrees to allot additional 1.4 acre of land in European Ward to Harijan Panchayat Committee
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 7: The vexed issue of relocation of Sikh settlers from the congested downtown area appears to have achieved a thaw.
On Thursday both sides expressed satisfaction after the state government agreed to allot an additional 1.4 acre of land in European Ward behind Raj Bhavan. The area will help accommodate 342 families and meet their basic requirement for a decent living.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting with representatives of the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC), Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said, “We are resolving the issue but it is not appropriate to reveal (the details) now as there will be another meeting in January, which I am sure will be conclusive.”
Representatives from the Delhi Gurdwara Committee participated in Thursday’s “positive” meeting, he said.
Some concerns aired by the Sikh settlers would be the focus of the meeting in January, he added.
Tynsong said one of the points discussed was adding 1.4 acres to the 2.14 acres of land in the blueprint for the relocation. Without revealing much, he said the discussion revolved around the size of the plot, its approach road, space for children to play, etc.
“We are hopeful that the relocation issue will be solved by the second week of January 2024,” he said.
Happy with the meeting, HPC secretary Gurjit Singh said he would seek the views of the members of the 342 families of Harijan Colony and respond to the state government.
“We are satisfied with the modified blueprint but there are still some points to be discussed with people in the locality,” he said.
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee general secretary, Jagdeep Singh said he is hopeful that the relocation issue would be solved at the earliest. “Some of the points have been considered but certain things are yet to be finalised and decided upon by either side,” he said, refusing to give details of the meeting.
The relocation proposal followed a clash between some Sikh residents and locals in 2018. The government subsequently constituted a high-level committee to suggest ways and measures for the relocation of the settlers from the area.
On March 31, 2021, the state government executed a tripartite lease agreement with the Syiem of Hima Mylliem and the Shillong Municipal Board for taking over the Harijan Colony land. It took possession of the land in October 2021.
On August 31, 2022, four years after constituting the committee, the state government decided to relocate 342 families from Harijan Colony to the existing quarters of the Shillong Municipal Board on Bishop Cotton Road. The department was asked to prepare a blueprint to facilitate the relocation.
The residents agreed to relocate provided each family was granted 200 sq. metres (approximately 2,150 sq. ft) of land in the European Ward and Rs 20 lakh as the construction cost of each house with all facilities.
They also demanded that shifting of the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Shiv Mandir, Durga Puja Mandir, Valmiki Ashram, CNI Church, and Guru Nanak School would not be acceptable to the community.
They further said some 60 people who earn their livelihood by running shops in the colony must be allowed to operate in the same place.
Disregarding the HPC’s demands, the Urban Affairs Department went ahead with the blueprint according to which about 30-40 flats will be constructed in 12 blocks on a 2.5-acre plot in the SMB office premises to be allocated to the people whose names have already been submitted in the high court.
The government would demolish the existing buildings as they are not strong and reconstruct the units for which necessary instructions have been issued, the department stated.
However, the HPC had rejected the blueprint terming it as “incomplete, unsuitable, unprepared, unfair, and undemocratic”.