Shillong, Dec 5: Chief minister Conrad K Sangma will seek union defence minister Rajnath Singh’s intervention for allotment of defence land to resolve the issue of relocation of 342 Harijan families from Them Iew Mawlong in Shillong.
Revealing one of the key agenda of the chief minister’s current visit to New Delhi, deputy chief minister in-charge Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar said Sangma is likely to meet the defence minister to discuss the matter in a day or two.
Dhar, however, admitted that the government is yet to identify any location for the purpose of relocation.
“They (defence authority) want to meet us. That is why the CM is seeking an appointment with the defence minister. Let us see what the outcome of the meeting is,” he added.
While the government already has a blueprint for relocation of the residents to a land belonging to Shillong Municipal Board (SMB), Harijan Panchayat Committee requested for defence land for relocation during a meeting with the state government.
“Blueprint is always there. But if there is a better option, we may go for a better option,” said the deputy chief minister.
“If the defence gives us the land, we will get it free of cost,” he said.
Dhar, meanwhile, asserted that the government is committed to resolve the long-pending issue at the earliest.
“We are trying to solve it very positively. We will wait for some time and take a final call,” he assured.
