Meghalaya Set to Finalize Punjabi Lane Relocation by July

Shillong: Meghalaya will settle the future of Punjabi Lane by the end of July. Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar confirmed the timeline on Monday. The government expects to finish one last meeting and review the final report before making its move. Time is running out.

The state wants to move residents from the settlement near Shillong's Iewduh market. Officials are looking at military land for the new site. Dhar noted the government has identified two or three spots, but the Army has not weighed in yet. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma already pushed the issue during several sit-downs with the Union Defence Minister.

The Punjabi Lane site has sparked heated debates since 2018. The area houses Sikh families who work as sanitation staff. The Meghalaya High Court has tracked the situation for years to keep the peace and protect residents. The state formed a high-level committee to sift through the mess. According to Dhar, "The government has one more meeting to hold before receiving the final report on the issue and intends to take a decision before the end of the month."