SHILLONG, July 19: In the face of growing opposition to the government’s proposal to relocate residents of Harijan Colony from Them Iew Mawlong to a three-acre plot of land behind TB Hospital in Mawbah, the state government is now looking for alternative sites to rehabilitate the residents.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday told a delegation of the Mawbah Dorbar Shnong, led by West Shillong MLA Mohendro Rapsang, that he had directed the Urban Affairs department to identify more areas for shifting the residents of Harijan Colony.
The Dorbar Shnong also submitted a letter to the deputy chief minister oppose the government’s original proposal to relocate the Harijans to Mawbah.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Tynsong said the state government did now want any law-and-order problem over the decision.
He made it clear that it was only a proposal made by the Urban Affairs department and the government was yet to take a final decision.
To a query, Tynsong said the state government has left it to the wisdom of the district administration to decide on reopening the road through Harijan Colony at Them Iew Mawlong which has been closed for more than four years.
He said the DC and the SP will have to decide if the situation was conducive for reopening the road.
Earlier, Tynsong had assured the Dorbar Shnong of Mawbah that he would look into the objections made by the residents of the locality.
On Monday, Tynsong had said the TB Hospital area at Mawbah was the most apt location for relocation of Harijans.
