Shillong, Sept 27: Meghalaya Chief Secretary D.P. Wahlang on Friday indicated that the state government is likely to consider allotting land adjacent to Harijan Colony for the relocation of its residents.

This comes following discussions with officials from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and representatives from the Save Shillong Sikhs (SSS), who travelled from Amritsar to express concerns over the dismantling of the Gurdwara in the colony.

“Yes, I had a meeting with the Harijan Committee officials, including members from the SGPC, who travelled all the way from Amritsar. They conveyed that it would be very difficult for them to accept the government’s proposal to dismantle the Gurdwara located in Harijan Colony and requested that the state government explore alternative solutions,” Wahlang said.

After a detailed discussion, Wahlang revealed that a possible solution could involve requesting land from defence authorities.

He mentioned that a formal letter had already been sent to the defence secretary and that a high-level meeting between the Chief Minister and the Union Defence Minister is expected soon. He also emphasised the collaborative effort, stating, “The Sikhs who came from Punjab have assured us they will put in all efforts to convince defence authorities to hand over a small parcel of land.”

The government has written to allot some land next to Harijan Colony, which would allow the residents to develop the area themselves, saving the government a significant amount of money, which otherwise would have been spent on shifting them to European Ward. “If the land is made available, the Gurdwara can also remain in place, and the remaining land can be taken over by the government for development,” he further said.

Despite the ongoing discussions, Wahlang clarified that the relocation of the 342 families from Harijan Colony has not been deferred. “There is no stoppage to the relocation. A status quo is being maintained as we explore the possibility of securing new land next to the colony,” he explained.

He reiterated that if the new land is provided, the residents will not need to be moved to European Ward. “They will be shifted across the road to the new parcel of land, and the developmental costs will be saved as the residents will develop the land on their own. This is the assurance given by the SGPC and others who are advocating for their cause.”

As for the size of the land, Wahlang stated, “It will be more or less an equivalent parcel of land, which the government will take over from the defence authorities.”

Looking ahead, Wahlang outlined the next steps, noting that both the state and political representatives, along with Sikh organisations like the SGPC, will collectively work to convince the defence authorities to allocate the required land. “It is imperative that we get this small parcel of land to ensure a solution that is acceptable to all parties involved,” he said.

The meeting with the SGPC and SSS delegation followed the dissatisfaction expressed by the Sikh community over the government’s initial proposal to relocate the residents of Them Iew Mawlong in Shillong.

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