Meghalaya | Setting up of high-level committee does mean Govt is trying to buy time: Dy CM

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By Our Reporter, TNT News | Shillong, June 06, 2018:

Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong said that the constitution of the High Level Committee does not mean that the State Government is trying to 'buy time'.

"We really mean business to find a permanent solution to this long pending issue. We would try to achieve what the Government in the past has not achieved," Tynsong told newsmen after the first meeting of the High Level Committee here today.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister, who is also the chairman of the committee, informed that they have asked the various concern departments to submit the documents on the status of the sweeper lane within a week's time.

Informing that besides asking the Khasi Autonomous District Council and Urban Affairs department to submit the relevant documents, he informed that they have also asked the Law department to study the court cases which are pending with the regards to the land which house the sweeper lane.

"The committee will then study the various documents to have a clear an understanding of the issue. We will then recommend to the Government on the steps which needs to be taken to address the grievances of all concerns," Tynsong said.

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He further said that it is important for the Government to understand the facts of the matter which include the issue of land and the issue of occupants in the area.

"After studying the facts, the Government would be able to take call on the matter. We will not be able to arrive to any conclusion if we do not study the genesis of the matter," Tynsong said.

When asked if there is any political agenda for this law and order turmoil in the city, Tynsong said that he would not like to comment if there is any political conspiracy behind the present situation.

To a question if the Sikhs working in other Government departments residing in the sweeper lane will be termed as illegal settlers, Tynsong said that he would not like to comment anything unless they have gone through the records on the occupants in the sweeper lane.

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When asked about the area of the sweeper lane, he said that the total area is roughly around 9,800 square meters.

"We will know the exact figure after the detailed survey of the Shillong Municipal Board," he said.

Meanwhile, Tynsong asserted that the Government's intention to relocate the Sikh population from the sweeper lane was in the best interest of all concerns.

"Our intention was only to relocate and not to deprive the Sikh community of their rights.  We do not want the same problem to crop up again in the near future,"

To the opposition by the various Sikh organisation to shift the sweeper lane in another location, he said that it is not a question whether you like or not or accept it or not.

"I cannot comment anything as of today until and unless we build up the case very strongly and clearly," he said.

Tynsong, however, asserted that there should not be a problem on relocation.

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