SHILLONG, AUG 1: Ngos and traditional heads reiterated their demand of putting an end to the land acquisition and the survey process for the proposed New Shillong Township (NST). The leaders threaten to agitate if the government fails to respond to their demand.
The public meeting of the ngos and the traditional heads held at Malki ground on Thursday also demanded dissolution of the Khasi hills autonomous district council (KHADC) if it fails to use its powers under the sixth schedule of the constitution to protect the tribal lands. Hundreds of villagers who are affected by the land acquisitions also attended the meeting.
Reading out the resolution after the meeting, KSU Mawryngkneng circle president W Kharsati said, “KHADC should intervene to stop the government from acquiring land that belongs to the community and if it fails the council to be dissolved.”
Kharsati also demanded that the government take back the land that was sold to the Civil Services Officers Housing Co-operative Society.” The land was sold to bureaucrats at Re 1 per sq ft at Mawdiangdiang within the proposed township.
Speakers in the meeting ventilated their fear that the township would aggravate the influx problem and turn the local people as ‘refugees’ in their own land.
“Only the unchecked trucks loaded with outsiders that are entering the state are enough to make the state congested,” Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) general secretary Sadon K. Blah said even as he pointed that the proposed move of the government to bring railway line from Mawdiangdiang would surely flood the state with migrants.
Blah felt that the government should immediately imposed ILP to decongest the capital, which according to him the government is justifying for setting up the NST.
“The township will be having shopping malls and flats of various shapes and sizes. Then where will our farmers go? They cannot afford to get accommodation in flats. It is better to be masters of your own huts than to remain as slaves in colossal mansions,” Blah said.
KSU general secretary A Jyrwa said they would choose to protect their rights and identity over development and questioned the government on its intention to accommodate 2 lakhs people in the new township.- By Our Reporter
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