Shillong, Aug 27: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday said the government will be meeting within this week to take a call on the Harijan Panchayat Committee’s (HPC) request for more time to respond to the proposal for relocation of 342 families from Them Iew Mawlong or Harijan colony.

“We will sit down within this week among ourselves then we will take a call and decide (on the matter),” Tynsong told reporters.

Asked about the government’s decision that there will be no more discussion beyond the 15 days time, the deputy CM however said, “Yes, of course we have done that (taken that decision) but again we received the request from their (HPC) side that they need one more meeting. So for that, as I said to you, I will not say anything right now because I need to call a departmental meeting, then we sit and decide.”

On Monday, the HPC had appealed to the state government for extension of the time to respond to the blueprint for relocation of 342 families from Them Iew Mawlong.

This came after the 15 days time granted by the state government to the HPC to convey its final decision on the proposal expired on Monday.

In a statement, HPC Secretary Gurjit Singh had said, “Following a recent meeting where the Deputy Chief Minister suggested that the Committee convey its final decision within two weeks, the HPC has emphasized that the short period is insufficient for them to consult with the highest authorities of the Sikh community.”

“We intend to seek the counsel of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee in Amritsar, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, and other senior community organizations and leaders. Their guidance is crucial,” Singh had said while adding that “Given the current engagements and prior commitments of the Sikh religious leadership, they have indicated that they will not be available for consultations for the next two to three weeks.”

“The letter suggested that in light of these circumstances, the Harijan Panchayat Committee earnestly requests that the next meeting on this issue be scheduled around the last week of September. The Committee is hopeful that by that time, they will be able to present a well-considered response that reflects the consensus of the broader community,” he said.

The HPC’s decision to make the appeal was despite the clear message given by the state government during the last meeting held on August 10, that there will be no more discussion on the issue beyond the 15 days time granted.

Recently, Deputy Chief Minister incharge Urban Affairs, Sniawbhalang Dhar, had said that if the HPC rejects the blueprint, the government will be left with no option but to pursue the matter in court. “And if we are to settle the issue in court, there is no question of implementing the facilities promised by the government in the blueprint,” Dhar had maintained.

He had said that it is upto the HPC to decide and accordingly communicate its decision to the state government without any delay.

It may be mentioned here that the government had come up with a blueprint after rejecting the April 2022-proposal of the HPC that 200 square meters of land be provided to each of the 342 families within the European ward besides bearing the cost of construction of their homes.

On August 31, 2022, the state government had announced its decision to construct housing flats at the 2.5 acres of land belonging to the SMB for relocation of the 342 families.

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