SHILLONG, APR 17: Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has demanded that the state government immediately cancel its decision to handover a ‘farm land’ to the Indian Air Force for construction of a golf-course at Upper Shillong arguing that it is a catchment area.
“We strongly protest the move of the state government to hand over a plot of land measuring up to 18 acres located at 6th Mile in Upper Shillong to the Indian Air Force authority,” KSU-Upper Shillong circle vice president Shngainlang Sohkhlet told reporters at a news conference. on Friday.
According to him, the 18 acres of land belongs to the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department of the state government. The farm land is also being utilized by the department for grazing plants and grass to feed the cattle.
Sohklet informed that the state government has promised to find a suitable location for the Indian Air Force during the 19th annual Rajya Sainik Board meeting chaired by chief minister Mukul Sangma, who is also the president of the board, held on December 4, last year.
The Indian Air Force had earlier said that its keen in setting up a disaster management centre (not a golf course) and would require at least 18 acre of land for this purpose.
Rajya Sainik Board secretary,
Sohkhlet, however, informed that the protest was raised after the state government had recently sent a letter to the Animal Husbandry Veterinary department for handing over the land to the Indian Air Force authority for developing a ‘golf course’.
Referring to a recent statement made by Meghalaya forest minister Prestone Tynsong who had said that the state government will require to acquire land for converting them into catchment areas, Sohkhlet questioned why the forest department is not taking initiative to convert this land (18 acre) as it is located near a catchment area.
“We urged the minister concerned to look into the matter rather than handover this land to Indian Air Force,” Sohklet said while appealing to MLAs and MDCs to also take up the matter to ensure that such attempt to convert the land into military-lands be stopped.
Sohklet reiterated that the KSU would not want Upper Shillong to be converted into military lands like what was happening to areas like Shillong peak and 101 Area in Upper Shillong.
Earlier, a delegation of the KSU – USC led by union central body leader Bansharai Warjri also met the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary deputy director to discuss the issue.
“The deputy director informed the delegation that the department is also opposing the decision of the government as the proposed land is being kept for grazing of cattle,” Sohkhlet said adding that the official has also expressed concern over handing of the land as it would affect the cattle besides the muster rolls appointed for taking care of the farm.
Meanwhile, the KSU threatened of agitation if the state government fails to roll back its decision.- By Our Reporter
WJB Sturgeon should be removed from his post..he has been also illegally posting staff in the Sainik board, and there seems to be manipulations for his postings, and who is he to decide handing over land to the Air Force. The Air Force has been leased enough land and the disaster management center can be planned within that land or link up with those in Governance in the State as they are experts in Disaster management.. but to grab more farm land will not at all be tolerated, and representatives should stop making wrong decisions just to be able to link with the Airforce..