HPC writes to Shah on Sweepers’ Colony issue

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 12: The Harijan Panchayati Committee (HPC) today sought the intervention of the union home minister Amit Shah for resolving the case of the Punjabi colony in a tripartite manner.

The committee has also urged the Centre to investigate the recent IED bomb blast and  the threats, which foster an environment of fear among the non-tribal populations.

“We seek your immediate intervention in taking up the case of the Punjabi colony in a tripartite manner with the government of Meghalaya,” HPC secretary Gurjit Singh said in a letter to Shah.

He said that the case concerning the rights and residence of our community members is currently subjudice, with ongoing efforts between the Government of Meghalaya, Harijan Panchayat Committee and other stakeholders to reach an amicable resolution.

“Despite numerous meetings and dialogues, tangible progress has been elusive. Even the promise of intervention by the Government of India, made in the waste of previous tensions, remains unfulfilled. We are confident that if the Union government takes the initiative to resolve the matter, it should be easily possible,” Singh said.

Stating that the recent blast was a deliberate attempt to derail the fragile peace process, the HPC secretary said, “This incident is not isolated but is indicative of the larger issue of communal harmony and the safety of minority communities within the state of Meghalaya. The arrests in the case are indicative of acts of elements instilling fear and attempting to overawe the beleaguered residents of Punjabi colony.”

“We bring to your notice with deep concern that nobody from the government of Meghalaya – from the chief minister downwards has condemned the incident so far. The political leadership, which generally issues statements against Punjabi colony residents at the drop of a hat, have not uttered a word or visited the area to express concern about the blast or support to the residents,” he said.

Further, Singh informed that the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and the National Commission of Minorities, the National Commission for Human Rights and other bodies have paid visits to the Punjabi lane as the Sikhs continue to fight for their legitimate rights.

“We, therefore, urge the Union Government of India, under your leadership, to take immediate and decisive action. It is imperative to not only investigate this recent act of violence thoroughly but also to hold accountable those who have been issuing threats and fostering an environment of fear among the non-tribal populations. We believe that peace and order can be restored with swift action against the mischief-makers, rather than allowing such critical issues to be brushed under the carpet,” he said.

He said that “the residents of Punjabi colony seek nothing but to live in peace and harmony, contributing to the society and economy of Meghalaya as we have done for generations. The current state of fear and insecurity hampers not only our well-being but also the broader societal cohesion and development of the state.”

He said that the Union government is duty bound to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights and safety of all its citizens, regardless of their ethnic or communal backgrounds.

“Your immediate attention and intervention in this matter will not only ensure the safety of the residents of Punjabi colony but also send a strong message against communal violence and intolerance,” the letter stated.

Meghalaya Govt close to solving Sweepers’ Colony imbroglio

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 12: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said the government is very close to finding a solution in regards to the long pending issue of relocating the 342 families from Sweepers’ Colony.

Speaking to reporters, Sangma said, “We are very close to finding a solution and we will finally be able to take the last bit of actions that are left to be taken and resolve this at the earliest.” 

“We are almost at the point where we are close to resolution and the citizens must appreciate that and I am sure most appreciate it but let me assure the citizens also that we are on this,” he added. 

His statement came two days after the incident of IED explosion at Sweepers’ Colony and the allegation that the area has become an eyesore to the people of the state. 

Sangma said that the people and the state will appreciate that for the first time actually there has been a serious move by any government to relocate the residents from the area.

“When we are trying to address a complex situation like this, there are complexities that we come up with. Therefore obviously, we would want things to happen in the next 24 hours but there is a reason why it has not happened during the last 50 years because of the different complications that were there and you must appreciate the kind of efforts and the work that is going on to resolve this in the most amicable manner,” he said.

Stating that there are many factors affecting the issue, the CM said, “It is easy for anybody to say solve it today, solve it tomorrow or day after but you need to look back at the history and realise that this is a very complicated problem and situation with many different angles to it, many legal issues around it and we have to work around all these issues taking into account all the sentiments and everything and come up with a solution that is going to be the most appropriate and most acceptable and most amicable in nature and hence, it does require time.”

“Therefore, in spite of all the efforts that we put in, we need to realise that these kinds of situations will require time to resolve,” he added.

Meghalaya Sweepers’ Colony issue has dragged on too long: says HC

Staff Reporter

Shillong, July 19: The Meghalaya High Court has observed that the issue related to the proposed relocation of the Sweepers’ Colony from Them Iew Mawlong has dragged on for far too long.

Hearing a petition on the matter, the Division Bench said, “Since the state and the respondents are still trying to negotiate an amicable settlement, the court’s interference is not warranted.”

“However, it has been repeated on several occasions that the matter has dragged on for far too long. The matter will appear six weeks hence in the hope that a solution is reached by then,” it added.  

The next hearing will be held on August 30.

On July 3, the Court in its order had slammed the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) for ‘playing fast and loose’ with the government and the court. “It appears that the respondents are playing fast and loose both with the government and with the Court.”

“A false impression was given on the last occasion that a minor matter had to be attended to but a subsequent statement was made that the Court had misinterpreted the submission,” the bench had then said.

On June 7, the Court in its order had informed that learned Advocate-General reports that Counsel for the Harijan Panchayat Committee has agreed, in principle, to the blueprint prepared by the government but has made some suggestions for modification in certain areas

“Since the State is looking at the suggestions for modification, let the matter come up three weeks hence. It is hoped that the parties will now resolve the long pending issue and give a quietus to these matters,” the Court had then stated.

Subsequent to this, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar had responded that the government is ready to discuss with the HPC on their request for modification of the blueprint, which seeks to relocate the 342 families of Sweepers’ Colony from Them Iew Mawlong to the existing land of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB).

He however said if the modification sought by the HPC is not feasible then the government will not agree.

The government had come up with a blueprint after rejecting the April 25,2022-proposal of the HPC that 200 square meters of land be provided to each of the 342 families within the European ward besides bearing the cost of construction of their homes.

On August 31, 2022, the state government had announced its decision to construct housing flats at the 2.5 acres of land belonging to the SMB for relocation of the 342 families.

“Now we will demolish the old units and accordingly construct a flat system of 5 or 7 stories as per Meghalaya Development Urban Authority (MUDA) byelaws,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had then informed.

Earlier, the HPC had rejected the blueprint of the government.

In its recent 6-page reply sent to the Deputy Secretary of the Government of Meghalaya and other concerned departments, the HPC had alleged that the proposal of the government was “incomplete, unsuitable, unprepared, unfair and undemocratic.”

HPC calls govt blueprint ‘unacceptable’

In a hard-hitting reply, sent today to the Government of Meghalaya’s blueprint for relocation of residents of Punjabi Lane, Shillong, the Harijan Panchayat Committee after multiple rounds of consultation with its members, has stated that the proposal of the government was “incomplete, unsuitable, unprepared, unfair and undemocratic.”

In an exhaustive 6-page reply sent to the Deputy Secretary of the Government of Meghalaya and to other concerned departments, the HPC letter reads, “There are serious lacunae, sweeping and undesirable conclusions in the approach and attitude of the High-Level Committee of the Meghalaya government.”

“We are absolutely devastated that since the formation of the new government, ministers, MLAs and certain groups have been making unnecessary remarks saying that the whole issue would be resolved within the month of April. What magical trick do they have up their sleeve to resolve the issue within days?  The matter is sub-judice and they are only paying lip service to respect for the judiciary. We will not buckle under political duress.”

“We have attended meetings of the government in good faith but the government is resorting to misinformation and disinformation through the media and at the meetings, the only attitude is to overawe us into submission to their proposal. The language of the political leadership is one of intimidation. They are putting our lives and properties at risk and making us vulnerable,” said HPC secretary Gurjit Singh.

The HPC has strongly alleged that the “entire exercise is an ill-founded relocation theory, which actually compels the resident citizens of the Punjabi Lane (Harijan Colony) to forego their rights, title and interest over whatever small land portion in the colony and to accept the prisons cells like accommodation being offered in the proposed Blueprint.”

Speaking to the media, HPC secretary Gurjit Singh reiterated that, “our original demands presented in the “Eight-point resolution” still stand and we will not buckle under political duress merely because it is convenient for the government to do so and simply because due to passage of time, the land has become a commercial goldmine.”

The Harijan Panchayat Committee which, despite all odds, has been spearheading a battle for rights of the residents since the last three decades, has in its detailed reply to the government said that the disputed land belongs to the Syiem of Mylliem, and not to the government and any attempt by the government to buy it is violative of the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act.

With reference to the recent incident of 31 May 2018, the HPC has stated that “taking advantage of a stray case of discord, suddenly the “relocation theory” was resurfaced for political and vested interests. We have all the official documentation necessary to live as citizens at our ancestral land in Punjabi Lane.

The letter pointed out gaping holes in the government’s blueprint -area too small and proposed houses pigeonholes, official building guidelines violated, no roadmap of demolition of present structures, no public amenities and last but not the least no specification of title to the land and the houses.

“There are so many grey areas and gaps. The government must clarify about all such concerns and only then it can be taken up for consideration by the Harijan Panchayat Committee, without prejudice to our right to reject the proposal” stated Gurjit Singh while speaking to media personnel.

Deriding the government’s haste, the HPC remarked, “It has been held by the Supreme Court of India and other courts as well that the right to lead a dignified life is an inalienable right and provisions of housing cannot be such that it is inhabitable for residents to live there. In the light of such judicial pronouncements, the residents are entitled to a better resolution.”

In an earnest appeal to the government and people of Meghalaya, Gurjit Singh said, “the government must stop the witch hunt and allow us to build our houses and we can assure that the beauty of the area will be fully maintained and for this the residents have the full support of the Sikh community.”

“The residents of Punjabi Lane want to live with honour and dignity at the land of their forefathers and it would be improper to treat them as aliens. The solution to this should be peaceful, amicable, mutual and permanent, without trampling on our fundamental rights,” he added.

HPC yet to reply to Govt’s relocation proposal

The Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) is yet to submit its reply on the government’s proposal for relocating the 342 families of Sweepers’ Colony from Them Iew Mawlong despite the deadline served by the government has expired today.

“Officially we have not received (the reply of the HPC) yet,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters.

He however informed that the government may invite the HPC for discussion within this week.

“I have seen in the newspaper that they are going to meet us. Maybe this week itself, we will call and again discuss with them because we have already sent to them the blueprint so it is only a matter of decision to be taken by them as from the government side we have already presented to them all the details,” Tynsong said.

On March 16, the state government set a deadline for the HPC for submitting its reply by April 10, with regards to the proposal for relocating the Sweepers’ Colony from Them Iew Mawlong to the existing land of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB).

The government had also turned down the request of the HPC to give another three months’ time to respond to the proposal.

The decision was also taken following an order of the Meghalaya High Court on February 16, asking the state government to immediately resolve the issue after the Assembly elections.

On September 29, last year the state government had presented the blueprint to the HPC during a meeting, which indicated its decision to construct multi-storey flats at the existing official quarters of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) for relocation of the 342 families.

The state government had completely rejected the April 25,2022-proposal of the HPC that 200 square meters of land be provided to each of the 342 families within the European ward besides bearing the cost of construction of their homes.