SHILLONG, MAR 2: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has threatened to file a fresh litigation and a petition for contempt of court against the alleged ongoing illegal encroachment into public land at Lawsohtun area by defence authorities.
The decision was taken based on a February 23, 2007 Judgment of the Gauhati High Court on a PIL filed on the matter which had directed that “no construction work shall be carried out by the Army authority in the area in question (Lawsohtun)”.
The Court had also directed the Advisory Committee on Shillong Land to complete the whole exercise within a period of 60 days from the date of issuing the judgment.
Addressing reporters here, NCP state chief Sanbor Shullai said, “We have decided to file a fresh PIL and also a contempt of court petition against violators of the High Court’s verdict.”
Shullai, who is also a legislator, said that the Lawsohtun area is a drinking water source for the people of Shillong and falls under the Meghalaya Protection of Catchment Area Act, 1990 as defined in Section 2 (C).
“The area at least seven natural sources which are feeding water supply to the entire Shillong city and the adjoining areas including the defence establishments,” he said.
He said the state government should look into the matter seriously while asking the defence authorities to refrain from any encroachment by honouring the High Court’s verdict.
The High Court in its judgment had also observed by saying, “We are of the considered opinion that to protect and preserve the catchment area vis-à-vis the ecological balance of the area in question, the Advisory Board will sit and take a decision as to whether the Lawsohtun Area should be declared as a catchment area or not.”
It also added that if the decision arrived at by the Advisory Board that Lawsohtun area falls within the definition of catchment area as defined under the Act of 1990, the state government should issue a notification to that effect and should take measures for protection of catchment area as per provision of the Act of 1990.
The Advisory Committee on Shillong Land was reconstituted on September 24, 2002 vide a notification issued by the Governor.
The committee headed by the then chief minister DD Lapang, was also asked to examine the status of government land in Shillong acquired at different times since 1863, and status of defence land acquired by defence authority from time to time.
Replying to a query, Shullai, who represents South Shillong, said, “Despite the liberty given by the High Court, the state government is yet to declare the area as a catchment area.”
He also said that whether the judgment on the PIL filed earlier was taken into consideration by the Advisory Committee was yet to be known until today. He said that if they were yet to comply, then it would tantamount to contempt of a court order.
The NCP had sought the intervention of the East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner who had immediately directed the defence authorities to stop construction at the area in Lawsohtun.
“We have also urged him (DC) to convene a meeting between the local leaders of the area, officials of the defence authorities and the state forest department to discuss on the matter,” Shullai said.
Moreover, he informed that an emergent meeting of the various village dorbar of the area will be held on Saturday to protest against the ongoing illegal encroachment, which may affect the water sources in the area.
Meanwhile, Shullai said the state NCP leaders will be leading a delegation to New Delhi to take up the issue with its central leadership for seeking the immediate intervention of the Union Defence Minister on the matter.
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