The Meghalaya government is likely to take a final decision on the proposed relocation of residents of Punjabi Lane (also known as Them Metor) in Shillong by the end of July, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said on Monday, July 6. Dhar told reporters the administration has one more meeting to hold before it receives a final report and “intends to take a decision before the end of the month.”
Dhar said one option under active consideration is to request land from defence authorities to relocate the settlement, but the government is waiting for the outcome of discussions with the Army before finalising any plan. He added that two to three alternative sites have already been identified, though no formal response has yet come from the Army on land availability.
The chief minister, Conrad K. Sangma, has also engaged the Union Defence Minister in multiple meetings over the issue, Dhar said, signalling sustained talks at both state and central levels on finding a resolution.
Punjabi Lane, located adjacent to Shillong’s historic Iewduh market, has been a contentious matter since 2018. The settlement is predominantly home to Sikh families who work as sanitation workers, and proposed relocation plans have drawn public attention and legal scrutiny.
The matter has been the subject of prolonged proceedings before the Meghalaya High Court, which has periodically issued directions aimed at maintaining law and order and protecting the rights of all stakeholders. The state government had earlier constituted a high-level committee to examine the situation and recommend relocation options; that committee’s findings form the basis of the pending final report.
With the government signalling a decision by month-end, attention will focus on whether defence land is made available and how authorities will balance relocation logistics with the legal safeguards and livelihood concerns of the residents.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/meghalaya/story/meghalaya-likely-to-decide-on-punjabi-lane-relocation-by-end-of-july-deputy-cm-1419963-2026-07-06?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-07-06 23:35:00
