SHILLONG: Having served as state’s Urban Affairs minister in the year 2006, Paul Lyngdoh submitted a representation to the chairman of the High Level Committee (HLC), Prestone Tynsong highlighting on relevant points regarding the Sweepers Colony (Them Iew Colony) imbroglio.
Lyngdoh who is currently the working president of United Democratic Party (UDP) spoke to reporters after meeting Tynson. He informed that Municipal authorities were supposed to exercise authority over the plot of land measuring around 34000 sq.ft.
He added the sweepers had been allotted quarters to house them during their service period with the Board.
According to him, the allotment of any plot or dwelling unit to any servant of the Board on a permanent basis does not arise as it goes against the well-established parameters of any government Board and institution.
Stating that allotment to persons other than employees of the Board and their immediate families is illegal and violative of allotment guidelines, Lyngdoh said that the settlement of employees of Municipal Board and others who are not employees of the Board, was illegal and they cannot claim any ownership or right of settlement in the place as it belongs to the Municipal Board that has accommodated them as employees.
He added that the employees should vacate the quarters after their period of service is over with the Board.
He cited an instance of the former Chief Minister (Mukul Sangma) who created quite a stir in the state when he did not vacate the CM’s official quarter even after three months.
Lyngdoh said, “How can we accept their argument that the employees of the Board have the right to stay there in the land even after the term of service is over.”
On the developmental angle, Lyngdoh spoke about the proposed road cum flyover project from Rap’s Mansion to Sweepers’ Lane and another proposal to construct multi level parking lot at Sweepers’ Lane to decongest Shillong city.
The road cum flyover project from Rap’s Mansion to Sweepers’ Lane covers an area which is approximately 1.20 kms in length.
Stating that the two project proposals involved land acquisition in two parts, he said , “The revenue land was leased to three individuals and High Court Bar Association. The land compensation is already paid.”
He added that the then state government was serious with the road cum flyover project as land compensation was already paid.
The second part is the land measuring 7.917 acres of vacant land of Shillong Cantonment for which he had met the Union Defence Minister and Union Minister for Urban Development.
