The Meghalaya government has informed the High Court that construction of shelter homes has completed in Tura and Jowai while the shelter home in Shillong, approval has been given for construction of the first floor as the ground floor is almost completed.
The government in an affidavit filed by the Director of Urban Affairs Department before the Meghalaya High Court said that it is implementing the component of shelter home under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) in six municipal boards in the state which include Shillong, Tura, Jowai, Baghmara and Resubelpara, and Willimanagar.
The Court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by one individual, Khroolamsalanki Pariat on the need to construct shelter homes for the homeless.
In Shillong, the ground floor of the shelter home at Kenches Trace is almost completed, the approval was given for construction of the first floor.
The shelter home at Jowai in West Jaiñtia Hills District and Tura in West Garo Hills district has been completed hundred percent.
At Jowai, electricity supply connection is still pending and at Tura, construction of retaining wall, compound wall and approach road would be taken up.
Regarding the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the construction of shelter home at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills district, deputy commissioner was requested to spare some government accommodations, but response is awaited.
Survey was also conducted for the shelter home at Resubelpara in North Garo Hills and Baghmara in South Garo Hills, and the Deputy Commissioners have been requested to identify government buildings/quarters to arrange as shelter for the homeless.
An order passed on Thursday by the division bench of the Meghalaya High Court headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir lauded the steps taken by the state authorities and directed the Additional Senior Government Advocate to file latest status about the follow up, before the next date of hearing to be held after three weeks.