Shillong, Nov 1: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Nov 1 said the Sweepers’ Colony issue will be resolved in a phase-wise manner even as he assured that the government is ready to talk to the leaders of the Harijan Panchayat Committee, which is opposing the move to relocate the residents of the colony from Them Iew Mawlong.

Speaking to the reporters, CM Conrad said that with the completion of the first phase which is related to land ownership, the second phase will be the shifting of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB)’s office from the quarters.

When asked about a query as to when the government is relocating the Sweeper’s Colony since it has recently taken over the land at Them Iew Mawlong, CM Conrad while responding said, “We will resolve this in a phase-wise manner taking one section at a time as that is the way to resolve such a complicated issue,”.

“Finally, we will go into the phase where we will find in an amicable manner in which we will be able to ask the others or relocate the other people but that is a process we will see and move to as it goes along,” Sangma added.

According to him, the government’s decision to move in this manner was based on the decisions of the High Powered Committee.

When asked, Sangma said that the process of shifting the SMB office has already started even as he informed that over 40 families who are employees of government departments have already shifted. He said the process of others moving will also start very soon.

Conrad on HPC’s statements

Meanwhile, on the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) rejecting the government’s taking over the land at Them Iew Mawlong, the Chief Minister however said everything has to be moved legally as nobody can go above the law.

Stating that the HPC leaders are emotionally charged and are giving statements on the issue, Sangma assured, “We are ready to talk to them. We are ready to discuss with them and find amicably and resolve this issue”.

He also claimed that this is the first time in the history of the state that a government has taken a very strong step and a concrete step towards resolving a long pending issue.

Land belongs to the state govt : CM Conrad

On the other hand, the Chief Minister said that the land now totally belongs to the state government.

“Absolutely the ownership of the land has been taken by the government as a tripartite agreement,” he stated.