Committee to decide on land transfer

SHILLONG, JULY 29: The issue of transfer of defence land to civil authority has been referred to a ‘Special Committee on Transfer of Defence Land to Civil Authority’ who will examine the government land which is under the possession of an individual till today even though the lease agreement had expired since 2005.

Meghalaya deputy chief minister RC Laloo informed after a meeting with the ngos and Rangbah Shnong on Monday, “The matter has been referred to the Special Committee constituted by the government on the issue of transfer of defence land to the civil authorities.”

The delegation consisting the KSU, FKGJP and Rangbah Shnong of localities like Qualapatty, Lama Villa, Mawkhar, Patan Bazar urged the state government to speed up the taking over of the government land which is under the defence authority and use it for various public purposes.

The plot of land the ngos and Rangbah Shnong were referring is about 3 to 4 acres located at Luckier Road near MUDA parking lot.
Laloo, however, said, “We are taking this issue seriously and the Special Committee will study the matter in detail.”

KSU general secretary Auguster Jyrwa told reporters after the meeting that the plot was first leased by the state government to the cantonment and subsequently, the cantonment leased out the plot to JN Bawri.

Jyrwa said the then government led by former chief minister late EK Mawlong and the present home minister Roshan Warjri, who was then the urban affairs minister had taken the initiative to take over the land from the cantonment after the lease agreement had ended in 2,000.

Jyrwa, however said, “When the lease agreement between the state government and cantonment was to expire in 2000, Bawri took the matter to court on the ground that the lease agreement between him and the Cantonment ends in 2005.”

Alleging that the state government has failed to take possession over the land even after the lease expired in 2005, Jyrwa said, “We therefore urged the deputy chief minister to pursue the matter seriously as the government cannot afford to lose the land so that the government can utilize for the good of the public especially in easing congestion in the area.”

“After the lease has expired, it is illegal on the part of Bawri to take hold of the land,” Jyrwa maintained.-By Our Reporter