SHILLONG, JUN 19: Firm over its resolve to stop the state government from acquiring community land for the construction of the New Shillong Township (NST), ngos, traditional heads and villagers barged into the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) premises and staged a sit in protest demanding that the council must intervene and pass a resolution to stop the acquisition process the government.
The KHADC budget session got underway on Tuesday and the session of the council is on.
“We demand that the district council must oppose the community land acquisition by the government for building the NST by passing a resolution asking the government to stop the process.”KSU Mawryngkneng circle president Wanlambok Kharsati told reporters.
Kharsati said, “The state government should be asked to re-consider its decision on the matter.”
The ngos who stage the sit in protest comprised of the CSWO, TUR, KSU, HNYF, KWADA, FKJGP and others along with residents from more than 20 villages who land the government is trying to acquire. The government proposed to acquire 2000 acres of land falling under community lands.
The ngos complaint that such rampant acquisition of community lands is unwarranted and should be immediately stopped as it is apparent that government is acting as an agent to acquire Raid land for companies and private sectors which cannot be allowed as it violates the Meghalaya Land Transfer Regulation Act 1971.
The ngos reminded the KHADC that the council was formed under the sixth schecule of the Indian constitution to safeguard the interests of the tribal people especially their land and forest.- By Our Reporter
