SHILLONG, MAY 10: The state assembly’s Public Acounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday decided to summon top officials of the state government for non-compliance of its report relating to Shillong Airport project.
“We have decided to summon them (officials) to appear before the committee on May 24,” PAC chairman Paul Lyngdoh told reporters after an internal meeting on Tuesday.
The committee will be summoning the Chief Secretary KS Kropha, Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi District Pooja Pande, officials from the departments of Revenue, Transport and PWD (Building).
Lyngdoh said that the departments have failed to come up with the ‘action taken report’ as was indicated in the findings of committee, the report of which was placed before the state assembly during the just concluded session.
The action taken report is of the new Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act passed by the parliament.
“The departments do not seems to have had the courtesy of going through the committee report,” he said adding “Therefore, we issued summon to them to come up with adequate and sufficient answers.”
The chairman further alleged that the district administration through the deputy commissioner of Ri Bhoi has acted in an arbitrary manner where a number of households had to meet with unavoidable harassment.
“It appears that DC is acting to save her own skin and avoid anger of the court,” Lyngdoh said while adding that such action is nothing short of harassment and abuse against the rights of the land owners.
Pointing at the new act, which clearly states right to fair and equitable compensation, he however said, “It is surprising that this has not been given due importance by the state government as the departments of revenue, transport and PWD seems to care very little.”
He also informed that the committee will take appropriate steps to ensure justice is given to the land owners.
Stating that all are interested to see Shillong has an airport of its own, Lyngdoh however added, “But this should not be at the cost of trampling over the rights of individuals.”
The PAC had taken up an inquiry after complaint by as many as 15 land owners alleging their lands were acquired but compensation was not paid to them.
Earlier, the PAC had pointed several deficiencies and irregularities in its findings which were submitted to the government.-By Our Reporter
stringent action should be taken to those person who are liable on that matter.