KHNAM against shifting Harijan Colony residents to Defence land

SHILLONG, Jan 19: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has expressed its opposition to the proposal to relocate the Harijan Colony residents to the adjacent Defence land, stating that the proposal defeats the very purpose of relocation.
“The problem is that the Ministry of Defence land that the government is proposing to use to shift the resident is just behind the present location which implies there is no meaning of relocation from point A to B which are very near to each other,” KHNAM working president Thomas Passah said.
He said the objective of relocating those people who are government employees staying in that area is to create space in order to ease the traffic congestion and stop all the illegal activities going on in that place.
Recalling past media reports on Lum Survey, he said, “The Lum Survey area, which is a Defence land, has reported lots of anti-social activities like drugs or others. From our point of view, relocating the residents to that area will not solve the purpose.”
The KHNAM leader reiterated that they were clear in their demand that government employees should be shifted to government quarters.
It may be added that the Meghalaya government is pinning its hopes on securing 2-3 acres of land from the Defence authorities to facilitate the resettlement of residents from Harijan Colony at Them Iew Mawlong. However, if the land transfer does not materialise, the state government will proceed with the pre-determined blueprint for relocation of the residents.
The resolution of the Harijan Colony resettlement issue hinges on the decision of the Ministry of Defence regarding the land at Lum Survey.