HLC holds first meeting, records to be called

Resolving Sweepers’ Lane imbroglio

Staff Correspondent

Shillong, June 6: The first meeting of the Meghalya Government constituted High Level Committee (HLC) to look into the persistent demand for re-location of the Harijans residing at a location near Iew Mawlong in Shillong decided to seek all papers from the state department concerne before making recommendations to the State Government.

The first meeting of the HLC that was formed after unwarranted incident that threw parts of Shillong city out of gear on Thursday resolved to asked for all the papers related to the site inhabited by a certain community. The Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Prestone Tynsong told newsmen today, “We have spoken to all the stake holders, elicited their views and finally resolved to call for all the papers from the government departments.” He was also vivid in pointing at the legal aspects related to the inhabitations of a non-tribal community that has moved the SC/ST Commission more than a decade ago, while reasoning that the government could not relocate the genuine residence.

With pressure mounting due to assertive gestures by the local NGOs and swift intervention of other agencies at the central level, the Government has seemingly to make a tight rope walk to resolve the issue. Asked on the issue, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “we are looking at the feasibility of their (Harijans) relocation and the committee will be looking at various facts related to land and the occupancy part.” He said that relocation does not mean deprivation to anybody and our resolve is to solve this issue at the earliest.

“If the department concern submits the papers as early as this week, we can have another sitting by next week to sort out the problem”, stated Tynsong.

If things are to be believed, the genuine residents apart, there are countless unknown people who are hiring rooms in the ramshackle house constructed beyond one side of the main road. Notwithstanding the open visible public glare on how the place has transformed into a commercial hub ( all government quarters) due to legal intervention, the clamoring for re-locating the geuine residents is slowly becoming more vociferous.