SHIMLA: The Kalon for the Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Home, Dolma Gyari, visited Shimla on 22 November to inspect the current situation of the Tibetan settlement in Sanjauli, a place where 70 Tibetan families have been living for more than four decades.

The residents are currently in an immediate threat of eviction due to the ongoing construction for a car parking lot proposed and approved by the Shimla Municipal Corporation.During her visit, Kalon Dolma Gyari held a meeting with the concerned Tibetan residents and assured them that the home department would provide all the necessary help and agreed to bear the expenses incurred for the contempt case filed against the Municipal Corporation in the high court.The court has been very sympathetic and gave a verdict that the Tibetan residents will not be evicted for the time being. The affected families will be relocated within the compound and necessary assistance will be provided by the construction company.Kalon Gyari Dolma along with Tenzin, chairman of the Local Tibetan Assembly, and Settlement Officer Tenzin Choejay met with the municipal Commissioner and Suresh Bhardwaj, state assembly, on 23 November.

“During the meeting, Mr Bhardwaj and the municipal commissioner were very sympathetic towards the Tibetans. They assured that the well-being of the Tibetans will be safeguarded in the best possible manner,” Settlement Officer Tenzin Choejay told TibetNet.“Kalon Dolma Gyari also had a long discussion with our lawyer, Rakeshwar Lall Sood, senior advocate at the high court, during which the pros and cons of the cases were discussed. He also assured that he will pursue the matter in the best possible way and was confident  that the judgement will be in our favour,” Mr Choejay said.“The construction company has also agreed to provide all the necessary material for the relocation of the affected families and the settlement office will bear all the labour expense for the relocation,” added said.