Issuance, withdrawal of patta at Sweeper’s Lane

A Correspondent

Shillong, June 6: The Hima Mylliem today said that it had given land pattas to residents settled in Sweeper’s Lane at Them Iew Mawlong in four places on humanitarian grounds.

According to acting Syiem of Hima Mylliem Ricky Nelson Syiem, the land pattas were given for construction of the Gurudwara, Guru Nanak School, Shiv Mandir and Durga Mandir situated in the area.

The acting Syiem of Hima Mylliem said that the land pattas were given in 2009. Following the opposition from several NGOs, they have decided to withdraw the pattas in 2010.

He informed that after the pattas were withdrawn the residents living in the Sweeper’s Lane approached the court.The court directed the Hima to conduct the hearing and then decide whether to withdraw the land pattas.

“In 2011, the Hima issued the order to cancel the land pattas even though till now it has not called the hearing to hear the residents living there,” the acting Syiem of Hima Mylliem said.

The land pattas were issued when Latho Manik Syiem was the Syiem of Mylliem.

Giving the background of the issue, Ricky Nelson Syiem informed that after studying the documents, they found that there was an agreement signed between the Hima Mylliem and Municipal in 1954 to hand the land at Them Iew Mawlong to the latter for construction of the quarters for the sweepers working with the board and other Government departments.

The acting Syiem of Hima Mylliem also informed that the agreement between the Hima and the Municipality was signed in two parts.

The first part is to allow the Municipal Board to construct the quarters for the sweepers while the second part is the construction of a shopping complex.

Ricky Nelson Syiem said that the total area of the first plot is around 10,000 sq ft while the total area of the second plot is 21,000 sq ft.

On the claim of ownership by certain clans over the said land, the acting Syiem of Hima Mylliem said that the agreement which was signed in 1954 has no mention of any clan but agreement was signed only between the Hima and the Municipal Board.

“As per the agreement, if the Municipal Board does not utilised the land, it would ultimately revert back to the Hima. If the land is reverted back, the Hima can expand the Iewduh Market which is already very congested,” Ricky Nelson Syiem added.