Youth bodies demand relocation of Them Iew Mawlong residents

A REPORTER

SHILLONG, June 11: A delegation comprising four NGOs on Monday met the Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya Prestone Tynsong who is also the Chairman of the High Level Committee (HLC) demanding the relocation of people residing at Them Iew Mawlong (Sweepers’ Lane) at the earliest.

The High Level Committee (HLC) has been constituted to address the prevailing situation in Shillong with regard to the Sweepers’ Lane (Them Iew Mawlong).

It may be mentioned the HLC shall examine all relevant records and documents relating to the relocation of residents of the Sweeper Colony, Sweeper Lane, Mawlong Haat. The committee shall also recommend practically feasible solution(s) for relocation of the said sweeper colony residents.

The four NGOs included the Khasi Student Union (KSU), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) and Ri-Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF).

Speaking to reporters after meeting the Deputy CM, KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar said, “The high level committee should seriously take up this issue of relocating the residents residing at Them Metor.

This is a problem which has been affecting the local people for many years and there is a need to solve it at the earliest, Marngar said.

He further said the High Level Committee should take up this issue of relocating the residents residing at Them Metor seriously.

“The government has been constituting such committees but they have failed to deliver on a number of issues,” he said, adding that the NGOs do not want the committee to become just a tactic of the government to bide its time. The government should instead take up the issue seriously.

He said that the four NGOs do not want the HLC to become just a tactic of the government to buy time but the government should instead take up this issue seriously.

The four NGOs also informed that they will continue to keep a tab on the status and progress of the HLC.

Marngar pointed out that the Chairman of the HLC was unable to give a time frame on the relocation of the residents of Them Iew Mawlong to the delegation.

Stating that if the promises made by the government are not fulfilled, he warned that the NGOs would then be forced to take their own course of action to pressurize the government to immediately address the issue.

The KSU president also said that the Sikh United Organization or other bodies from outside the State should not interfere on the issues concerning the State.