VPP asks Govt to direct other depts to take care of their employees, who are residents of Sweepers’ Colony

Opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) legislator from North Shillong Adelbert Nongrum on Tuesday asked the State government to direct other departments to also take care of their respective employees, who are also residents of Them Iew Mawlong, to avoid the need to provide additional 1.4 acres of land for the purpose of relocating them.

In a statement, Nongrum said that he totally agrees with the deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong who had yesterday mentioned that land will not be transferred to the 342 families.

“I laud the effort of the state government (to relocate the residents of Them Iew Mawlong) but the question arises is why do you need to provide additional land for them. You have decided to shift the employees of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) to the SMB land, well done. But why are you not asking other departments to also provide quarters to their respective employees, who are residents of Them Iew Mawlong, so as to avoid the need to give 1.4 acres additional land for their relocation,” he said.

On Tynsong’s request to the VPP not to politicize the relocation issue, the North Shillong legislator however said, “I want to remind you that the VPP will never mislead the people of the state. The formation of the VPP was not only for politics but for policies. Land is life and we have to think about the future generation.”

“Also, if you (Tynsong) as chairman of the High Level Committee (HLC) says that you have no time (to debate on this issue) then who will give the time,” he said.

Nongrum further assured the people that he would continue to conduct a follow up on the issue be it inside or outside the Assembly.

“It doesn’t mean that I am communal or I hate the residents but in fact I feel pity for them and their living conditions, which is very pathetic. It is my duty as the father of the constituency to also fight for their rights to relocate them on humanitarian grounds…,” he added.  

The State government in its modified  blueprint had proposed to provide additional 1.4 acres of land for relocating the 342 families since the existing land of SMB was not enough to accommodate all of them.