Stop land acquisition or face agitation

SHILLONG, MAY 27: Ngos and traditional heads have demanded that the Meghalaya government must stop indiscriminate acquisition of land for the New Shillong Township (NST) or else they will be force to launch an agitation.

The ngos consisting of the KSU, CSWO, FKJGP and four Rangbah Shnong of the villages which have been earmarked for acquisition by the government submitted a memorandum to Meghalaya Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary, KHADC chief executive member (CEM) PN Syiem, Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal and ministers seeking their intervention on Monday.

The demand has been ignited by May 17 government notification that make its intention of acquiring over 2000 acres, which falls under community lands, official.

An earlier December and January 2013 notification also officially declared the government’s move to acquire land measuring approximately 6284153.05 sqm of lands in villages including Umsohlang – Umtung, Nongkharai – Synrem – Jongksih and Mawpdang in East Khasi hills district while 965173.23 sqm in Wahskheh, Mawpdang in East Khasi hills district.

The ngos and Rangbah Shnong opposing the acquisition said, “We strongly oppose the propose move of the state government to snatch away people’s land and livelihoods in the name of development and of creating a New Shillong Township.”

According to ngos taking away community lands will take away the indigenous tribal right to livelihood and gainful employment through agriculture which it pointed out is clear violation of constitutional guarantees and safeguards.”

Terming the NST plan “unjust” and “unfeasible”, the ngos said the project will bring hardships to the people who land are being take away and also involve misuse of public money because it is through illegal diversion of central funds the NST is proposed to be building . The ngos maintain that the money could have been used to develop other district towns and subdivisions which would also have helped in checking internal migration and decongest Shillong city.

The memorandum submitted to Mooshahary demands the proactively use of powers to protect the tribal farmers,  the indigenous people and uphold their legitimate rights by ensuring that the acquisitions and all other related plans be immediately stopped. – By Our Reporter

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