SHILLONG: A senior functionary of Punjabi Lane (Them Iew Mawlong) said though the state government made promises in the past to construct flats in the locality there was no follow up action.
Gurjeet Singh, the secretary of Harijan Panchayat Committee and president of the Gurdwara committee, said in the past former Urban and Municipal Affairs Ministers Friday Lyngdoh and Ampareen Lyngdoh had conveyed that flats will be constructed.
There was also suggestion from the government that the flats can be constructed under the Rajiv Awas Yojana, he said.
Gurjeet said four meetings were held in this regard, but in vain.
He also pointed out that in 2007, an assurance regarding construction of flats was also made by the state government before Buta Singh, former Home Minister and the then the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
Families
Out of the 350 families, while 70 per cent are Sikhs, there are others, including one or two Khasi families in the area, Singh said.
Several mixed marriages also took place in the past.
Among the religious places are three temples in the name of Shiv, Hanuman and Valmiki, a church and a gurdwara.
While Guru Nanak School is recognised as a minority institution, a separate polling station was allotted by the Election Department.
Crime hub allegation
Gurjeet also denied the allegation that the Punjabi Lane area is a hub of crimes and other anti-social activities.
There were also allegations that the residents of Punjabi Lane caused harassment to visitors.
Denying these charges, Gurjeet asked those who make these allegations to find out how many FIRs or cases are pending in the nearby police station. “The allegations are not true, anyone is free to go and ask police report of the incidents at Punjabi Lane at least for the last three years,” he said.
218 petitions pending
Gurjeet said as many as 218 petitions are pending with the Hima Mylliem related to no objection certificates for providing electricity, water connections and others.
