Govt to relocate Harijan Colony residents to Shillong Municipal Board quarters

Shillong, Aug 31: The state government has decided to relocate the residents of Harijan Colony to the Shillong Municipal Board quarters located at Bishop Cotton Road.

New quarters will be constructed to accommodate the residents.

Earlier, the government had decided to shift only its employees from the Harijan Colony to the Shillong Municipal Board quarters. Hence the Board office was shifted from there to the earlier office of Basin Development.

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters on Wednesday that the decision was after a meeting held by the revenue and urban and municipal affairs departments and Shillong Municipal Board to finalise the blue print.

According to the technical report provided by the urban affairs department, all the 342 families can be accommodated in the same place.

Tynsong said after the urban affairs department and Shillong Municipal Board bring the design and estimates for construction of the quarters, he will have a meeting with the Harijan  Committee.

According to Tynsong, twelve blocks will be built and each will have 30 to 40 units.

To a  question, Tynsong said as the existing buildings are not strong, they will be reconstructed in the 2.4 acre area.

Tynsong admitted that the government is facing challenges to find a suitable location to relocate the residents.

Earlier, Mawbah residents had opposed the move to relocate the Harijan Colony residents there.