North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum on Monday alleged that there has been no political will to resolve the long-pending Them Ïewmawlong issue, with the proposed relocation of 342 families from the locality remaining unresolved since 2018. He maintained that the matter is a State issue and can be addressed at the State level without intervention from the Centre.
Nongrum said the issue had remained pending for nearly eight years, with the relocation of the residents of Them Ïewmawlong yet to be completed. “The issue of Them Ïewmawlong is not a central issue, it is a state issue, because of lack of political will the issue is pending till date,” he said.
He said the matter did not require intervention from the Central Government and could be resolved by the State Government. Nongrum also objected to the locality being referred to as Punjabi Lane, Sweeper Lane or Harijan Colony, maintaining that the area was originally known as employee quarters for cleaners. “Them Ïewmawlong not Punjabi Lane, not sweeper lane or harijan colony because the very place is known as employee quaters as cleaners.”
Nongrum said he would continue to wait for a resolution but would not compromise his position on the issue. “I wait and watch, I will not compromise my position at the cost of generation.”
