SHILLONG, NOV 27: The Laban Circle of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has demanded the state government to immediately evict the alleged illegal settlers from Maxwelton Estate and Mahadev Khola.
In a letter submitted to the Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Thursday, the KSU said, “We urge the minister to speed up the process of evicting these illegal settlers and protect the interests of the local indigenous people.”
The union said the 9 acres of land at Maxwelton Estate, which falls under the jurisdiction of Dorbar Shnong Kenches Trace Oxford Rilbong (K.O.R), is a revenue land and belongs to the government of Meghalaya. There are huge number of illegal settlers settling in the area without the consent or approval of the dorbar shnong or any appropriate authority for that matter. It also highlighted concerns over health, sanitation and environmental degradation.
Slammed at the government’s inaction, the union has also vowed to continue building houses for the indigenous in the Maxwelton Estate.
“The government seems to accept the move made by the Union as it has been more than a year but there has been no development in this regard. If the Government fails to address this long pending issue, then the Union will continue to build permanent structures in Maxwelton Estate for the local indigenous people,” it stated.
Regarding Mahadev Khola, the KSU alleged that illegitimate settlers have been building permanent structures and disposing of waste into a nearby stream, polluting it.
The union had previously demolished some structures, but the district administration had called for dialogue instead of taking action.
“The Union has lodged several complains with the appropriate authorities in this regard but all fell to deaf ears and the illegal constructions kept on going which prompted the Union to demolished the structures and was confronted by the law enforcement and after which the district administration called for dialogue and discussion.”
“The district administration had submitted the report to you in regards to its findings and the Union would humble like to request to speed up the process to evict the illegal settlers in Mahadev Khola,” it added.
By Our Reporter
