HLC to soon submit report to Govt over Sweeper’s Colony issue: Tynsong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 19, 2021

The High Level Committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong will soon submit its report to the state government for necessary action in regards to the Sweeper’s Colony issue. 

“The HLC will again sit very soon and report will be submitted to the state government,” Tynsong said while replying to a query raised by West Shillong legislator Mohendro Rapsang in the Assembly on Friday. 

The HLC was constituted by the state government in 2018 following the violent protest demanding immediate relocation of the Sweeper’s Colony from Them Iew Mawlong. 

When Rapsang sought to know the reason for the delay to resolve this long pending issue, Tynsong said, “When we start sitting (as HLC), we found so many things which need to be done and corrected as even the present form of agreement between the Hima Mylliem and the state government was very vague…We are also lucky that the Government of India has considered Shillong (for) smart city project and we are thinking of redeveloping quite a number of places – taking all these things into condiration it is taking time as we need to have meetings with the Hima Mylliem and also with the KHADC.”

He however said the urban affairs department is working a detailed plan on this as Mawlonghat is the main commercial hub, “we thought may be we can redevelop this area.”

“However, I cannot say (much) since as per the terms and reference, the Committee should submit its report to the government then only we can say,” he added. 

North Shillong legislator Adelbert Nongrum has expressed concern against the state government’s failure to include him as member of the HLC. 

“My people want to know why me as an MLA (of the area) was not being included in the HLC…what is there behind the scene,” he asked. 

To this, the deputy chief minister assured to find out as he cited that since the notification was issued by the state government. 

“(But) not necessarily that we include Mr A or Mr D as the issue here is how to get the issue addressed effectively. Question of why Mr A or Mr D not part (of the HLC), it is not fair. However, I will find out as this notification came out from urban affairs,” he stated. 

Meanwhile, Tynsong assured that the government is seriously considering this issue to reach to a permanent solution.