CCIB meets KHADC on fencing

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, APR 19: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has decided to again convene a meeting with stakeholders on May 5, to take a final call on the issue of border fencing along the Indo-Bangla border in East Khasi Hills District.

The decision was taken at a meeting held between the KHADC and the delegation of the Coordination Committee on International Boundary (CCIB) – a conglomeration of traditional heads, landowners and NGOs, here on Wednesday.

However, the meeting was inconclusive as it could not arrive at any decision after some of the traditional heads were not present during the discussion.

It may be mentioned here, the CCIB have been demanding realignment of boundary as per 1958 Nehru-Noon agreement before taking up the proposed fencing project along the Indo-Bangla border.

According to them, the boundary should be re-laid as they claimed large chunk of lands in Bangladesh belongs to them.

“In view that some of the village sordars could not attend today’s meeting, we have decided to sit again next month to take a final decision on the matter,” Council’s chief Pynshngain N Syiem told reporters.

He said that all the village heads and landowners along the stretch from Nongjri to Mukertila are requested to attend the proposed meeting to be held on May 5.

According to him, the outcome of the upcoming meeting will accordingly be communicated to the Centre and State governments for their necessary consideration.

Asked, Syiem said that the government both at the Centre and State has to understand that they cannot take any decision without the consent of the people due to the peculiar land tenure system in tribal Meghalaya.

Stating that the government needs to take the landowners, traditional institutions and district council into consideration, he said, “The land compensation Act, 2013 clearly stated the importance to take the consent of the district council.”

Informing that the sense of house during the meeting was not against the border fencing project, the chief executive member (CEM) however said, “But majority have expressed opposition on the construction of the fencing from 150 yards.”

“They prefer fencing from zero line to ensure that border villagers do not lose their cultivable lands to the other side,” he said adding “Taking this into consideration we will not take any hasty decision to give any permission.”

He also said that concern was also expressed on the decision of the government to pay land compensation for only those lands falling in the 11 meter line of the fence while those which fall within the 150 yards are not included.

Meanwhile, CCIB general secretary Kmen Myrchiang said the landowners of most of the cultivable lands, which falls within 150 yards if fencing is constructed, have valid land documents.

“If fencing is allowed, huge chunk of their lands will go to Bangladesh. That is why we are demanding that the boundary should be re-laid before going ahead with construction of the border fencing,” he said.

Rubbishing the claim of the government that Meghalaya stands to gain over 240 acres of land, Myrchiang alleged that the protocol agreement is good in theory but practically the state will lose nearly 600 acres of land.

“What is more unfortunate is the fact that the government could not point out as to where are these 240 acres of land located which the state is gaining,” he said.