Meghalaya govt to deliberate on Harijan Committee's request for extension in relocation response

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya government is set to convene this week to address a request from the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) seeking additional time to respond to the proposed relocation of 342 families from the Them Iew Mawlong area, also known as the Harijan Colony.

Meghalaya deputy chief minister, Prestone Tynsong, confirmed on Tuesday that a meeting will be held to decide the course of action regarding this request.

Tynsong stressed on the need for internal deliberation before making any decisions.

“We will meet within this week to discuss the matter and then take a call on it,” he told reporters.

The Meghalaya government had previously issued a firm deadline of 15 days for the HPC to convey its decision on the relocation blueprint.

When questioned about the possibility of extending this deadline, Tynsong acknowledged the government's prior stance but noted that the HPC had requested another meeting.

"We did decide that no further extensions would be granted, but since they have asked for one more meeting, we need to discuss this within the department before deciding," he said.

On Monday, the HPC formally requested an extension to provide its response to the government's relocation proposal, arguing that the original 15-day deadline was insufficient.

In a statement, HPC Secretary Gurjit Singh explained that the committee needs more time to consult with senior leaders and organizations within the Sikh community, including the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee in Amritsar, and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.

“These consultations are crucial, but due to prior commitments and current engagements, the Sikh religious leadership won’t be available for the next two to three weeks,” Singh stated.

He added that the HPC has requested the next meeting be scheduled for the last week of September to allow time for a well-considered response that reflects the community's consensus.

The request for an extension comes despite the Meghalaya government’s previous declaration that no further discussions would occur beyond the initial 15-day period granted during the August 10 meeting.

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Urban Affairs, Sniawbhalang Dhar, had earlier warned that if the HPC rejected the government’s relocation blueprint, the matter might have to be settled in court, potentially delaying the implementation of the facilities promised under the proposal.

The government's blueprint for relocation was introduced after rejecting the HPC's April 2022 proposal, which had called for providing each of the 342 families with 200 square meters of land within the European Ward and covering the cost of constructing their homes.

Instead, the state government announced on August 31, 2022, its decision to build housing flats on 2.5 acres of land owned by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) to accommodate the displaced families.