Shillong July 4: The High Level Committee (HLC) has decided to give another 30 days time to the residents of Them ïew Mawlong to submit their documents to prove that they are legal settlers.

The High Level Committee took this decision during its meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong on Thursday. Tynsong is the chairman of the HLC.

The HLC discussed the issue and decided to give another 30 days to the residents to submit their documents. The 30 days period will be counted from the day when the Shillong Municipal Board will start issuing fresh notices to the residents.

Based on the direction of the HLC the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) had on May 31 carried out the second inventory survey and issued notices to over 300 households at Them ïew Mawlong urging the residents to submit their documents within one month from June 3 and July 3.

Tynsong told reporters that according to a report received by the HLC, not a single resident had come forward to submit their documents till Wednesday (July 3).

Tynsong said that the direction of the Meghalaya High Court was very clear that the residents should cooperate with the inventory survey of the Shillong Municipal Board in the area and it is upto the residents whether they would come forward or not.

“We will wait till the 30 days period is over,” he said.

Earlier Tynsong had stated that the government was determined to find a permanent solution to the long pending issue at Them ïew Mawlong since settlers in the area are living in a horrible condition as the place is congested and very unhygienic.

But the Harijan Panchayat Committee alleged that Tynsong has issued a “polite threat” for asking the residents at Them ïew Mawlong to vacate the area on their own.

“Whatever they say, it is up to them. If they claimed to have been here for 200 years, I hope they will have not any problem in producing documents,” Tynsong said.