Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma to Meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for Relocation of 342 Families of Harijan Colony

"If we get the defence land, it will come at no cost. If not, we will proceed as per the original blueprint," he added.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma will meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the allocation of defence land for relocating 342 families from the Harijan Colony at Them Iew Mawlong, said Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Urban Affairs, Sniawbhalang Dhar.

“We need to wait for some time. There is a meeting with the Defence Minister on this subject, so let us wait. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is in Delhi and plans to meet the Defence Minister,” said Dhar.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that a blueprint for the relocation is already in place. However, he emphasized that the allocation of land will depend on the outcome of the upcoming meeting between CM Sangma and Rajnath Singh in Delhi.

Dhar assured that the government is actively working on finding a solution, and while the blueprint is ready, the state will consider other options if the defence land is made available.

“If we get the defence land, it will come at no cost. If not, we will proceed as per the original blueprint,” he added.

The relocation plan has been a point of focus after the 2018 clashes in the area, prompting the government to take action based on the recommendations of a High-Level Committee.

Initially, the government had planned to relocate the families to premises owned by the Shillong Municipal Board at Bivar Road, offering 2.14 acres of land along with an additional 1.4 acres.

However, the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) demanded that each family be allocated 200 square meters of land within the European Ward, which lies outside the jurisdiction of the Sixth Schedule.

The HPC also expressed strong opposition to any relocation plan that involves demolishing religious structures, particularly the 200-year-old Gurdwara in the colony.

The HPC asserted that they possess legal documents, including a patta (land deed), for the Gurdwara, temples, and schools in the area, reinforcing their opposition to the demolition of these structures. While the HPC has shown a willingness to consider relocation for the community, they insist that the Gurdwara and temples remain in their present location.

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