SHILLONG, Nov 2: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday said the members of the 342 families of Harijan Colony, who will be relocated, cannot be termed as illegal settlers.
He told journalists the question of illegal settlers does not arise.
He said the state government will throw out illegal settlers but these people are not illegal settlers. The office of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) has the details of the 342 households and the High Court of Meghalaya has the names of the people, Tynsong said. “Therefore, you cannot say these 342 households are illegal,” the Deputy CM said.
Reacting to a query on the blueprint of relocation, he said the High Court asked the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) to submit its affidavit. He said the state government has already shared the blueprint with the HPC.
“I had told them to inform us once they decide among themselves. We will sit again. They are yet to communicate with us but the High Court has asked them to file their affidavit in a few weeks,” Tynsong said.
The government wants to relocate these 342 families of Them Iew Mawlong to the quarters of the SMB on the Bishop Cotton Road. As per the plan, 30-40 flats or units will be constructed in 12 new blocks on a piece of land measuring about 2.5 acres.
The government handed over the blueprint to the leaders of the HPC about a month ago but they said they would consult engineers and architects before taking a decision.
