Hopingstone reelected as HSPDP president

SHILLONG, APR 26: Veteran legislator Hopingstone Lyngdoh has been reelected as the Hills State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) president even as the party reiterated its opposition to uranium in the state and also called on the government to resolve the age-old boundary dispute with neighbouring Assam.

The party general council meeting held at Jaiaw on Friday also elected Ardent Basaiawmoit as its vice president Enbin Kharraswai as secretary, W Mawsor as joint secretary, JS Khardewsaw as finance secretary, HB Dan and Hoping Marshiring as auditors.

The meeting also elected new office bearers for the party’s women and youth wing.

I Syiem has been elected as women’s wing president and M Pariong as secretary, Nolipstar Lyngdoh and Grosspar Ryntathiang were elected to the posts of the youth wing president and secretary respectively.

Around 500 party members from across the Khasi hills region attended the general council meeting.

Speaking about uranium mining in Meghalaya, Kharraswai said,  “We oppose any move to mine uranium in the state considering the health hazard to the people and the negative impact it will have on the environment.”

Kharraswai said that the state mining policy must take all these concerns into consideration. It also demanded that the land tenure system and the rights of the local indigenous people should be safeguarded along with protection to environment.

With regard to the age-old boundary dispute with Assam, Kharraswai said that even after Meghalaya got statehood 40 years ago the problem lingers. He informed that the party has decided to demand proper demarcated the boundary in Khasi hills region.

HSPDP also joined the chorus of opposing the proposed move by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for amendments of the sixth schedule of the constitution of India.

The meeting also took umbrage at the violation of the Indian registration Act 1972.Kharraswai said that it is surprising that lands in Garo hills region does not have to be registered with the office of the deputy commissioners but in Khasi – Jaintia hills region, people have to get their lands registered with the DC’s offices.

Kharraswai said, “People in Garo hills only register their lands with the Nokmas and GHADC, whereas our people here have to register with the DC office and the registration fee is high.” He said government must recognize KHADC and traditional institutions as the competent authorities for land registration and related matters.

Expressing concern over the problem of influx, the HSPDP has also said that there is a need for the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state. Kharraswai said, “We urged the government to take necessary steps in speeding up the implementation of effective mechanism to check the unabated influx in the state.” – By Our Reporter