Shillong, May 7:The state government will hold one more meeting in June with the Harijan Colony leaders to finalise the relocation of the residents.
Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong, Sniawbhalang Dhar together with the Advocate General and officers met the leaders and lawyer representing the Harijan Colony residents on Tuesday to discuss the relocation.
Tynsong said the Harijan Colony delegation sought one more month before finalising the relocation.
In response to a question, the Harijan Panchayat Committee leaders maintained that the relocation is related to 347 families and not 194.
While answering the same question related to replies to RTI queries that there are only194 eligible families and not 342, Tynsong said the papers are being verified by the concerned departments.
Tynsong pointed out that there was a major fire incident at Them Iew Mawlong in 1996, where almost all quarters were totally gutted and destroyed and in the process few papers and documents were also lost.
“So, ultimately what happened was lately infact the director of urban affairs in the year 2008 and 2009 has given direction to the MUDA to again conduct a fresh survey on the presence of those families in Them Metor, where they have done it. As I said to you still based on the RTI replied by the CEO of SMB, I can’t say anything right now as now the MUDA and Director, Urban Affairs is on the job verifying this reply,” he said.
“Therefore as far as this number is concerned I will not say anything right now. Let the verification be over and once the verification is done, I will be able to come out clearly that yes these are the numbers,” he said.
Tynsong said the government has to be guided by the Manual Scavengers Act while dealing with the issue.
