SHILLONG, May 15: The Urban Affairs department will take time to prepare the blueprint for the proposed relocation of the residents of Them Iew Mawlong.
An official on Sunday said the department is yet to begin the exercise for the relocation plan.
“The department will require ample time to work on the blueprint as it would be extensive,” he said, adding that a month would be too short a period for completing the exercise.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has asked the department to complete the exercise at the earliest, the official said.
The Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) had on Saturday said it was awaiting the relocation plan from the government to study and decide whether or not to accept it.
The HPC secretary, Gurjit Singh had said they were expecting the government’s blueprint by the end of May.
Reiterating the HPC’s demand of 200 sq. m of a plot per family besides the construction cost of the houses, he said they want permanent relocation.
“We are fighting for our rights. The deputy chief minister had said our demands are legitimate and we are not asking for anything wrong,” the HPC secretary said, adding that the residents of the locality are connected with the land after staying there for so many years.
Tynsong said the government will invite the HPC for talks once the blueprint is ready.
