‘Cold War’ amongst bureaucrats: CM

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, MAR 8: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today warned of a “Cold War” amongst bureaucrats in the state while he denied the charge that the state government was favouring a particular cement plant.

“I assure this House that the government will investigate because an unhealthy trend is happening in the state and I warned through you (Mr Speaker) that there seems to be some Cold War amongst bureaucrats,” Sangma told the Assembly during the Budget Session.

“The privileged space available for government officers to serve the people and they should not misuse this to settle their personal scores.”

This he stated while replying to a call attention notice tabled by UDP legislator from Sohra T. Chyne on a media report which alleged that the forest department was giving undue favours to a cement plant.

Informing the House that the allegations made would be taken into account, Sangma assured that any irregularity if brought to the notice of the government would be followed with action.

“Anything which goes against the interest of the state, the government will take note of this and take measures to ensure there is a system created as a deterrent,” he added.

Denying that there was “irregularity” or “favouritism”, the chief minister said it would be wrong to allege the government just by going through a media report. He also appealed to all to collect inputs and verify before making allegations.

However, he said the allegation of irregularities was very serious and the intend behind the report was something which the government would look into seriously.

“To say the government is favouring one cement plant and not favouring other cement plants is wrong. What has the government got to do with one cement plant and (adopt) a hostile attitude to other cement plants?” Sangma asked.

He said the government’s policy has always been to ensure that an enabling environment is created for investment and based on that, a number of policies have been adopted as investment by various industries was required.

Further refuting the allegations, the chief minister informed that the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Regional Office, Shillong granted In-

Principle/Stage I approval to M/S Star Cements Ltd subject to certain conditions for diversion of 4.82 hectares of forest land, out of the total 70 hectares of land pertaining to their Lumshnong limestone mining project on February 19, last year.

He said the mining project is located not at Narpuh Reserved Forest as alleged in the news item but nearly 4-5 kilometres away from the Narpuh Reserved Forest.

One of the conditions of Stage I approval states that the Star Cement
Company ought to transfer an equivalent area for compensatory afforestation.

The Company identified 4.82 hectares of non-forest land at Kairian Phai Village Moulhoi, Saipung in East Jaintia Hills District. This land was initially owned by H Simon Siangshai, who was a former minister.

The state government in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department on May 12, 2016 approved the transfer of land from Siangshai to Star Cement Company, Ltd in terms of Section 3(1) of the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act, 1971.

In pursuant thereto, Siangshai, with respect to the said land, entered into a sale deed with MIS Star Cement Company on May 2016 for an agreed sum of Rs 12,21,0001- after having duly paid stamp duty for Rs 1,21,000/. 

Thereafter, the said deed was registered with the Sub-Registrar, East Jaintia Hills District. Further, the Revenue and Disaster Management Department on 28.10.16 approved the proposed handing over of 4.82 hectares of land by MIS Star Cement to the State Forest Department for compensatory afforestation.

The above stated land was offered for transfer by the absolute owner thereof viz MIS Star Cements Ltd to the State Forest Department for the purpose of compensatory afforestation without any encumbrance.

“The allegation that the said land offered for transfer to the state forest department is a piece of leased land is false. The report has also falsely alleged that since no land could have been owned by M/S Star Cements in VI Schedule area, therefore, it could not have transferred the same to the state government,” the chief minister said.

Moreover, he said it has also been falsely reported that no transfer could have been effected directly from a tribal owner to the State Government while the documents established that the land was sought to be transferred from MIS Star Cements Ltd to the State Forest Department in accordance with law after having secured absolute ownership through purchase from a tribal owner after securing requisite approval from the State Government in the Revenue & Disaster Management department in accordance with Section 3(1) of Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act, 1971.

He further said that it was false to state that a junior office was assigned the task of securing ownership of land through transfer. Sangma said that under the law, only the Divisional Forest Officer (T) could have received ownership of the land through transfer and none else in the Forest Department.