Need to protect indigenous people from environmental refugees: Shylla

SHILLONG, NOV 21: The KHADC today said apart from demanding that the Indo-Bangla border fencing should be from zero line, it would also seek the Centre’s intervention into the need to protect the state and its indigenous people from ‘environmental refugees’.

Replying to a motion moved by Independent Nongskhen MDC Grace Mary Kharpuri during the ongoing winter session, KHADC chief HS Shylla said, “Erecting of fencing should be from zero line and the government should respect by obtaining the NOC from the Council.”

He admitted that there have been apprehensions (among the border residents) of losing huge chunck of land if the border fencing is allowed to be constructed 150 yards away from the zero line.

However stating that the “real danger” is that neighbouring Bangladesh is facing the risk of being submerged with the rise in sea levels, Shylla said that there is a need to protect the indigenous people who are very small in population from environmental refugees.

“We will write to the state government for taking up the matter with the Centre to urge the United Nations (UN) for protection of our indigenous population from environmental refugees,” he said.

Shylla suggested that the Centre should seek such protection under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) by ensuring Meghalaya is exempted from the protocol relating to refugees.

Earlier while moving the motion, Kharpuri said that as a leader representing the people residing at the international border feels that it is necessary for the executive committee to intervene into this important issue which is affecting the people and their cultivable lands.

“The KHADC should intervene to ensure proper demarcation is done before allowing the border fencing,” she said while demanding that the construction of border fencing should be from the zero line.

She added that if the border fencing is allowed to be constructed 150 yards away from the zero line, the people residing at the international border will lose over 3,000 acres of land.

Quoting the 1975 Indo-Bangladesh Border agreement, Kharpuri said, “It has states that for so long the permanent boundary between India and Bangladesh is not yet demarcated. The present pillars will stay as working pillars till permanent pillars are executed after proper consultation with the local land owners and stakeholders.”

Expressing surprise that the border fencing has been done without obtaining the NOC from the KHADC, the MDC said the CEM is requested to take up the matter and also ensure that NOC is not granted for the purpose.

Kharpuri further demanded that an enquiry should also be instituted to probe as to why the fencing work which should have been taken up by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) was allegedly allowed to give sub-contract to others.

“The state government just to please somebody is trying to trample upon the rights of the people and their land. I came to know that the work has been given to Rocky Dhar (brother of a minister),” she alleged.

Supporting the motion, former KHADC chief Pynshngain N Syiem who is also Mawsynram MDC said that it is high time that the provisions of the Sixth Schedule are put to use on the matter. He said that the district council should write to the state government that erecting of border fencing will not be allowed without its NOC.

By Our Reporter