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Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People's Party (NPP) leader Conrad Sangma. (PTI data map)
The MDA ruling coalition, led by the National People's Party, has been seeking solutions since coming to power in 2018 to find new sites for settlers who refuse to relocate.
The Meghalaya government on Saturday directed residents of Shillong's Punjab Lane area to respond within 15 days if they are willing to accept the proposed relocation package.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar held a closed-door meeting with Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) leaders to discuss the relocation of 342 families in the area.
“They will convey their decision to the government within 15 days. They want to ensure consensus and discuss the issue with parent organizations,” Dar said. The deputy chief minister pointed out that some issues still need to be finalized with organizations like the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) .A relocation proposal and blueprint have been submitted to the HPC to relocate the families to the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) office building on Bishop Cotton Road and the plan has been accepted by the HPC.
Jagdeep Singh of the Delhi Sikh Gurugram Management Committee found the meeting productive but pointed out that certain issues remained unresolved and more time was needed.
The MDA ruling coalition, led by the National People's Party, has been seeking solutions since coming to power in 2018 to find new sites for settlers who refuse to relocate. That same year, violence broke out between locals and Sikh residents after a local bus driver was attacked, leading to a month-long curfew.
In response to popular demand, the MDA government proposed to resettle the residents, most of whom were Sikhs brought to Shillong by the British 200 years ago to work in sanitation. The government has provided an additional 1.4 acres on top of the existing 2.14 acres.
Although the Sikhs were initially hesitant, they agreed to move but with conditions, including the government covering the cost of building the homes. However, some local NGOs opposed the plan and warned it could lead to serious unrest if indigenous peoples were ignored.
(This report has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)
