SHILLONG, AUG 28: The Hima Nongspung accused the Assam government of violating the High Court ruling by undertaking developmental projects like electricity and water supply in the villages under the Hima as it threatened to approach court if the state government remains a silent spectator on this issue.
“Assam has recently give electricity connection and water supply to nine villages in the Hima which is clear indication that the Assam government has violated the order passed by the High Court last year,” Hima Nongspung secretary Michael Warjri told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday.
The villages that Assam has extended developmental projects include Ranibari, Bilpara, Patkang, Halher, Bakhlapara, Lungkhung, Jimbrikang, Hawla and Bernongsai.
According to Warjri, the government of Assam had surrendered the lands of Hima Nongspung before the High Court on July 25 following a petition filed by the Hima Nongspung in 2009 after the Assam had allegedly constructed road from the same villages – Patkang to Bakhlapara on the land belong to the Hima Nongspung in Ri Bhoi district.
Warjri informed that the High Court on March 5, 2010 granted the stay order directing the Assam government to stop the construction of the road from Patkang to Bakhlapara, Halher, Ranibari, Akhoinijira, new Balakhawa, Balakhawa and Bernangsai village.
“Despite having agreed to stop costruction of roads within the Hima Nongspung land, the Assam government however has now started to encroach by extending other developmental projects like electricity and water supply to these villages,” Warjri said. He also was of the opinion that this has happened because the Meghalaya government has failed to bring about development in the area.”
Warjri said, “The action by the Assam government tantamount to contempt of court order.”
The Hima Nongspung has also submitted petition to the state government and district council authority seeking intervention into the l encroachment by the Assam government.
“We have written to chief minister Mukul Sangma, the deputy commissioner of Ri Bhoi and Chief Executive Member (CEM) of KHADC on the matter seeking for their immediate intervention to disallow the Assam government from encroaching into the Hima’s jurisdiction as till now no action has been initiated, Warjri informed.
Warjri , however, warned that the Hima will be compelled to file a petition against the Assam government again, if the Meghalaya government is not acting on the issue.”
Warjri also informed that the executive dorbar of the Hima Nongspung has maintained that it would take immediate action not to allow the Assam government to re-encroach the lands already surrendered by it to the Hima Nongspung.
Meanwhile, the Hima Nongspung is also contemplating to get back the protected forest and tea garden which was allegedly encroached by the Assam government since 1972.
“We would serve notices to the Assam government asking it to return back the reserve forest and tea garden to the Hima,” Warjri said. According to him, the reserve forest which is around 10 square km had been handed over by the Hima to the British government in 1887 for plantation of trees.
“We would want the Assam to return back the reserve forest to the Hima,” Warjri told newsmen on Thursday. He also said that the Hima will also be writing to the Kolkata based firm to return back the tea garden to the Hima.
Warjri informed that the Hima had given the land to a British gentleman who is a married to Khasi woman to start the tea plantation. He said, “ But now we came to know that the Kolkata based firm has taken over the tea garden since the family of the British gentleman had failed to return the loan money.” He said for this reason the Hima would like to get back this land since the British gentleman no longer holds possession of the said land.
Warjri also warned that the Hima would not hesitate to approach the High Court if the both the Assam Government and the firm does not comply to its request to return back the land to the Hima. He said,“We have got all the relevant documents to prove our ownership of both the reserve forest and the tea garden.”- By Our Reporter
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